Songs of Christmas - Walking In The Air

14 Songs of Christmas – (12) Walking In The Air.

On the 12th day of Christmas Songs, I have chosen a song from a short movie that I found to be tremendous. The short movie is, The Snowman (1982) It’s a great little movie where moving pictures are only enhanced by our own imaginations.

Before I get to the song, let me explain this 14 day run of Christmas Songs posted here. There is a reason for the season, and there is a reason for this 14 Days of Christmas Songs project as well.

Last May (2021) my younger brother suffered and lost his battle against cancer. While I still struggle with our loss, I still remain as a big brother to a pair of siblings and one brother now in heaven. I think of him constantly. He and I were both big fans of each other and of Christmas. We loved being with family, especially during this time of the year.

For some months now, I have been thinking of writing more about music, about lyrics, and about the connections that music makes for us all in so many ways. This December I decided to do my 14 Songs of Christmas. My late brother’s favorite number was 14. A lot of folks knew my brother as #14. Since there are 12 days of Christmas, I figured I would come up with a different number for the songs of Christmas. 14 of them, or so.

Today we go walking in the air. Something about this song, and certainly the movie, just grabbed my attention and dragged me in to the wonder that is Christmas hopes and dreams.

The song was written on the back of an envelope by Howard David Blake. The TV movie made from a book by Raymond Briggs. Nothing fancy. Just childhood dreams and some good music. All these years later, I own a copy of the movie. It stuck with me from the first time, many years ago. And I struggle to recall what I had for breakfast on most days.

There’s the landing spot. The pile was a little bit taller before I jumped into it…twice. (photo by 1inawesomewonder)

Walking In The Air.

We’re walking in the air
We’re floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I’m holding very tight
I’m riding in the midnight blue
I’m finding I can fly so high above with you
Far across the world
The villages go by like dreams
The rivers and the hills
The forests and the streams
Children gaze open mouth
Taken by surprise
Nobody down below believes their eyes
We’re surfing in the air
We’re swimming in the frozen sky
We’re drifting over icy mountains floating by
Suddenly swooping low on an ocean deep
Rousing up a mighty monster from his sleep
We’re walking in the air
We’re dancing in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly

Walking In The Air – (Spotify) – I really like this version by Nightwish.

Walking In The Air – (Spotify) – This is the version that I first fell for.

Walking In The Air – (YouTube) – Nightwish.

12 day of Christmas Songs Bonus – A Great Big Sled by The Killers.

If, on Christmas Eve, a young boy builds a snowman that comes to life and takes him to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas as seen in, The Snowman. Then isn’t there truth to a line like, “…but, little boys have action toys for brains…” Here is to childhood dreams, imagination, and ample distraction-free time to be a kid. And doesn’t anyone else relate to this? “…I want to roll around like a kid in the snow. I want to relearn what I already know…”

A Great Big Sled – (Spotify)

A Great Big Sled – (YouTube)

This snowman is shaping up to be an eight but not out of tenThe robots awake to find that they’ve been taped downWondering when, they break though these chainsBut little boys have action toys for brains

I’m living proof, it can last a long time, now the girls upThe street are innocent and sweet while their all in bedThey got their makeup and dreams of wonderland

Sprinkled inside their heads, soon they will changeBut tonight Hollywood hills never seem so strangeTheir mothers pray it will last a long time

I wanna roll around like a kid in the snowI wanna relearn what I already knowJust let me take flight dressed in redThrough the night on a great big sledI wanna wish you merry ChristmasHo, ho, ho

Now the boys are all grown upAnd they’re working their fingers to the boneThey go around chasing them girls on the weekendYou know they still can’t be alone

I’ve been raking my brainWith thoughts of peace and loveHow on earth did we get so mixed upI pray to God, it don’t last a long time

I wanna roll around like a kid in the snowI wanna relearn what I already knowJust let me take flight dressed in redThrough the night on a great big sled

I hear the sound of bellsThere’s something on the roofI wonder what this night will bring

I wanna roll around like a kid in the snowI wanna relearn what I already knowJust let me take flight dressed in redThrough the night on a great big sledI wanna wish you merry ChristmasCan’t do thatI wanna wish you merry ChristmasCan’t do that

Songwriters: Mark August Stoermer / Brandon Flowers / Dave Brent Keuning / Ronnie Jr. Vannucci

Walking In The Air came to my attention when my oldest kids were small. I am sure we watched the movie several times way back then. Like I said, it stuck with me even though I forgot about it for a few years. Then I started looking for it again, and have enjoyed the song and movie many times since.

Growing up in our house there was a record player in the living room and that was my favorite room, by far, once the Christmas decorations were up. There were Christmas records playing often in the living room and I would listen to the songs as I played with toys on the floor (or with little green Army men in the tree branches).

Many times I just sat on the heater/radiator and gazed at the lights and reflections of the decorations on the Christmas tree, while I dreamed boy’s dreams. Or perhaps I stared through the front window into the night, looking past the electric candle, and searching the skies for any hints of snow.

Sometimes, I still long to be that little kid sitting next to a frosty window, the only light in the room being the glow of our simple Christmas scene. Hearing Mom in the kitchen and Dad coming in from the cold night after another day working in the ministry of his calling. Siblings in and out, but mostly me solely focused on the songs, the words, and the reason for Christmas. Dreaming my dreams, without knowing that I was learning the tools to cope, to self-sooth, and to be calm.

Thank you for sticking with me. Music is awesome! There is something for everyone. Merry Christmas!