Reading the lyrics now, I see they can easily be about what a lot of us may endure these holidays even though I wrote it a year ago... If we can’t be together... let’s make sure to reach out as best we can... it’s been a difficult time all around... but this time of year can pour an especially strong cocktail of regret and loneliness amidst the carols... lots of love to you all out there... let’s try to remind ourselves and others what inhabits our hearts.... 

But this is how it was written... 

In Oct. of last year I was on a visit with Jus and the meatballs to our great friend Alice’s place... they live by a wonderful expanse of greenery and we were taking their dog (and ourselves) for a walk... 
Alice’s partner Nicolas was asking about music and what was happening... chit chatting... and all of a sudden got cheeky and said, “You are a good songwriter Rich... but... I bet you couldn’t just write a Christmas song if I asked you!” 

“Is that a dare?” I replied... my mind already spinning images and words... 
Then about 2 min later I had the line... “And though life does it’s best to keep us apart... I’ll always have you and December in my heart...” 
I repeated the words to him out loud and he started laughing... “OH! You’re serious! That’s great!” 

I was on a roll... so as soon as we got back to their place I asked one of their wonderful daughters if I could use her 3/4 scale classical guitar. I ran straight to the nearest bathroom (hahahaha... I can’t help it... they are my creative hubs now hahahahahaha THAT REVERB) and finished the song as they were having a wine in the dining room... 

I excitedly came ambling down the stairs all clown shoe and banging off the walls.. “I GOT IT!” 

I sang what I had and they (the kids especially) really reacted positively... 
When we got back to ours (the song bouncing off the cavernous and mostly empty expanse in my head during the drive) I got back into the comfort of my own guitar and loo... key change here... a few lyric fixes there... voila... 

I recorded it on my phone and sent it to Gaff for the verdict! 
“Good one!” Hahahahahaha 

The rest of the band were soon on board... 🙂 

I really tried to get something with just enough universality and something very real and personal... the juxtaposition of uplifting or glammy energetic music with nostalgia and heartfelt melancholy... 

I channeled all the Christmases that I missed with my parents while in New York ... 4 years in all... and the desperate feeling of wanting people in my family to make amends... walking through the Lower East Side... a little drunk... a thousand miles away... but still universal and open... anyways... here’s my attempt

December In My Heart

Rich Ragany - December In My Heart

Prolific UK based songwriter Rich Ragany has shared stages on tour and one night stands with the likes of Michael Monroe, Scott Sorry and Ginger Wildheart. Now the frontman has recorded his first solo album, “Like We’ll Never Make It”

There are some great people on board with him … Fellow guitarist Gaff (Glitterati, Dedwardians), Andy Brook on piano, vocals, producer (Shush and celebrated producer with Status Quo amongst others), Ricky McGuire on bass (UK Subs, The Men They Couldn’t Hang), Kris Rodgers on keys (Scott Sorry Band), Kit Swing (Mallory Knox) on backing vocals and Simon Maxwell (The Yo-Yos, Role Models) on drums. The band got on so well that they are now a solidified live unit with an aim at making it a going concern on stages throughout the UK

Having supported The Lemonheads at Kentish Town Forum they have also been chosen as BBC artist of the month and track of the week distinction and have live sessions recorded for broadcast.

Rich Ragany & The Digressions

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