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Ghost of Christmas

by Elcano

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about

About this track:

The experiences of Fernando Magellan and Juan Sebastián Elcano during the first circumnavigation of the world (1519-1522) are at the heart of Elcano’s lyrics.

“Ghost Of Christmas” brings together Charles Dickens’ three ghosts of Christmas and chronicles the progress of the real-life crew on their journey:
In December 1519, the five ships sailed along the Brazilian coastline and did trade with the peoples of the local tribes.

By the end of December 1520, three of the ships had negotiated the Strait of Magellan and were about to spend month upon month on the endless Pacific Ocean without any fresh supplies.

Just days before Christmas 1521, solely the carrack Victoria, richly laden with cloves and other spices, set out from the Philippines in westward direction, either to reach the safety of Seville half a world away or to be intercepted and punished by the Portuguese fleet.

lyrics

Lyrics:

Anchored in Guanabara Bay,
rowing ashore most curious
The mouth of the Rio de Janeiro,
home to the Tupi Temiminós

From the cornucopia
of Verzin’s fair utopia
The wealth of God’s grand grace is splayed
for daily needs and worthwhile trade

“Merry Christmas,
ye five who run,
your grand journey
has but begun” –

Ghost of Christmas number one

Conceived by eleven thousand virgins,
three born from this grand island’s core
And with this miraculous emergence,
the Magnus Sinus is no more

Tomorrow was like yesterday:
same sun, same sky, same nebulae
Set in the welkin’s nocturnal gloss:
four gemstones set like our Lord’s cross

“Merry Christmas,
as ye three crews
have penance done
and more yet must do” –

Sprite of Yuletide number two

Barely left the Moluccas
and the Trinidad in dire distress
Thus our figure of good fortune
swells o’er nine months of loneliness

“Merry Christmas,
your lone sails swell
from the Banda Sea
back home through Hell” –

Hear the Ghost of Christmas,
See the Sprite of Yuletide,
Feel the Phantom of the third Noël

credits

released December 1, 2023
Music & lyrics by Elcano
Recorded & mixed by Sebi Schiess at SOS Basement Productions
Mastered by Dan Suter at Echochamber

Home page: www.elcano.ch
Facebook: www.facebook.com/elcanoband
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw5qXOMDZxwurvN_dn19NgQ
Bandcamp: elcanoband.bandcamp.com/album/hewn-in-water
Spotify: open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/6rEfu9D0zfUfBihYJKJtk8?si=CQN8H0MCRmWAGlRCFOyMHA&nd=1&dlsi=6fe6d8c8c5784a5d

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Elcano Olten, Switzerland

Tall tales of longing, freedom and new discoveries, such is the ilk of nautical metal.

Carrying a proud charge of rocks and metals in the cargo hold of its carrack, this group set out from the high seas of Switzerland to entertain and appeal to a wide audience the world over.

As all hands are on deck for the creation of new music, something unique is brought about in each song. ... more

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