I’m not sure where or who mentioned “Elbow” to me, but I currently have borrowed two of their albums, “Little Fictions” and “The Take Off and Landing of Everything.” This music is original and euphonic, so I can see myself getting to know this band well. These are not throwaway lyrics either! For these reasons I went to youtube looking for an Elbow holiday song. I found Elbow’s cover of Golden Slumbers, which isn’t technically a holiday tune – unless it is used for a holiday commercial. Once I get back to non-holiday song posts, you’ll be hearing their original music.

Elbow are an English rock band formed in Bury, Manchester, in 1997. The band consists of Guy Garvey (lead vocals, guitar), Craig Potter (keyboard, piano, backing vocals), Mark Potter (guitar, backing vocals) and Pete Turner (bass guitar, backing vocals). They have played together since 1990, adopting the name Elbow in 1997.

The band have released eight studio albums, Asleep in the Back (2001), Cast of Thousands (2003), Leaders of the Free World (2005), The Seldom Seen Kid (2008), Build a Rocket Boys! (2011), The Take Off and Landing of Everything (2014), Little Fictions (2017), and Giants of All Sizes (2019). Their studio albums, as well as their B-sides compilation Dead in the Boot (2012), all reached the top 15 of the British album chart. Seven of their singles placed in the top 40 of the British singles chart. Their most recent album, Giants of All Sizes, was released on 11 October 2019.

In 2008, Elbow won the Mercury Music Prize for their album The Seldom Seen Kid, and in 2009 they won the Brit Award for Best British Group. In 2012, they released “First Steps”, the BBC theme for the 2012 London Olympics.

Elbow covered the song “Golden Slumbers” by The Beatles for the 2017 John Lewis Christmas commercial.

“Golden Slumbers” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album Abbey Road. Written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it is the sixth song of the album’s climactic B-side medley. The song is followed by “Carry That Weight” and begins the progression that leads to the end of the album. The two songs were recorded together as a single piece, and both contain strings and brass arranged and scored by producer George Martin.

Once there was a way
To get back homeward

Once there was a way
To get back home

Sleep, pretty darling
Do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby

Golden slumbers
Fill your eyes
Smiles await you when you rise
Sleep pretty darling
Do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby

Once there was a way
To get back homeward

Once there was a way
To get back home

Sleep, pretty darling
Do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby

Songwriters: Paul McCartney / John Lennon