1975- A Baby Just Like You

@JDHealingTimeOnEarth ... In this archival clip from 1975, John introduces his song A Baby Just Like You with a heartfelt and meaningful look at what Christmas means to him at this point in his life. It is a very touching moment in time, dedicated today especially to his son, Zak Deutschendorf Denver. May we always give one another the Gift of Life, the Gift of Living; together as one, in peace.

(There's a video tape glitch of a few seconds long in the song, which serves as a reminder of how far technology has come, and to remind us to appreciate what tapes we do have of John singing and sharing.)

Included herewith, for our non-English speaking friends, is a transcript of the prologue to the song, so that you may use a translator service to bring this to life for you:

"This past summer a friend of mine asked me to write a song for his granddaughter, Angela. He said that he wanted it to be a Christmas song. In telling me about it, he said that this little lady who had come into his life had totally altered his life just by the fact of her being and that certainly Christmas was more to him than it had ever been.

I started looking at that and I remembered back when I was a little boy and what Christmas was to me. I remember that it was a time of incredible joy. It was a magical time. There were trees with lights on them and bubbly mirrors and that people were around buying presents and the whole family got together and everyone was happy. As I grew older, the meaning of Christmas also seemed to grow. It began to include the story of a little boy, a little baby whose name was Jesus; and he was the son of God. I was filled with a sense of wonder.

As years past, though, Christmas seemed to lose a lot of its’ magic for me. It started to be something that – mostly it was an excuse for people to go out and get presents and give presents to one another. It came to be kind of a sad thing for me. But now, I too, have an addition to my family. I have a little boy whose name is Zachary. He’s come to be the most important thing in my life. What I’ve realized is that what Christmas is all about is giving, but it’s not presents, and it’s not toys. It’s this incredible thing that we can all give to one another and that we can all share. The Gift of Life, The Gift of Living. One evening I sat down with a friend of mine, a fellow named Joe Henry, and together we wrote this song."

"A Baby Just Like You"

The season is upon us now, a time for gifts and giving.

And as the year draws to its close, I think about my living.

Christmas time when I was young, the magic and the wonder.

But colors dull and candles dim and dark my standing under.

Oh, little angel, shining light, you've set my soul to dreaming.

You've given back my joy in life, you filled me with new meaning.

A savior King was born that day, a baby just like you.

And as the Magi came with gifts, I come with my gift too.

That peace on earth fills up your time and brotherhood surrounds you,

That you may know the warmth of love and wrap it all around you.

It's just a wish, a dream I'm told from days when I was young,

Merry Christmas little Zachary, Merry Christmas everyone.

Merry Christmas little Zachary, Merry Christmas everyone.
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