Charlie Brown: "Does anyone know what Christmas is all about?"
Linus Van Pelt: "Sure, Charlie Brown I can tell you." [moves to center of stage] "Lights, please."
Linus Van Pelt: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, [drops blanket] 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"
[Linus picks up his blanket and walks back towards Charlie Brown]
Linus Van Pelt: "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
The year I was cast as Snoopy in "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," my friend found this record - it was on vinyl - and she would play it whenever I went over to her house. She said Snoopy had to have entrance music. We would dance around the room like fools and end up laughing and out of breath while her older sister shook her head at our childishness and her mom yelled, "Don't skip the record!" LOL... shout out to CJ and those good times!
One thing I love about this masterpiece: it's raw. Listen for the little flub at 0:50. Instead of cutting and re-recording, Guaraldi just played through. We don't get to hear that very often these days.
"Linus and Lucy" was playing on The Weather Channel the moment my wife and I first met in the waiting room of our dentist. I don't play any instruments, but I learned how to play this song on a piano. Immediately after my wife and I kissed as a married couple for the first time,,I sat down and played this song. Everyone, my wife especially, loved it.
Thank you, Vince Guaraldi. You played a part in what is now going on a 16 year marriage, and you will always be a part of it.
The first thing my daughter always tells her friends when they come over, "if you ask, my mom will play the Charlie Brown song on the keyboard for you"
Amazing how music can unlock parts of ourselves that we thought we'd buried or outgrown. Suddenly I'm 7 years old again, sitting in my living room and watching A Charlie Brown Christmas with my parents, my little brother, and a big mug of hot chocolate.
