Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples, Sean Lennon and Harlem Gospel Choir Sing 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)' On 'Colbert Report [VIDEO]
All week Stephen Colbert has ended each episode of his news-satire show with a Christmas Carol performed by a famous singer. For the final "Colbert Report" episode of the week, and the year, viewers were treated to John Lennon's "Happ Xmas (War Is Over)," performed by his son Sea Lennon, Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco), Mavis Staples, and the Harlem Gospel Choir.
Watch it here:
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Before the performance, Stephen Colbert signed off for the year, recapping all he had accomplished in 2012 with the help of his loyal fans.
"We wrote a book, held a music festival, passed a thousands shows, rigged our campaign finance system, ran for president, was named a senator," Colbert boasted, crossing his finger for that last one.
Jeff Tweedy and Mavis Staples are currently at work on the soul legend's second studio album produced by the Wilco frontman. Meanwhile, Sean Lennon was called in to fill in for his much-missed father. The Harlem Gospel Choir, in its 1970s iteration, actually performed the back up vocals.
Check out the original "Happy Xmas" music video:
And here are the full lyrics so you can sing along:
So this is Xmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Xmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A very Merry Xmas
And a Happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Xmas
(War is over)
For weak and for strong
(If you want it)
The rich and the poor ones
(War is over now)
The world is so wrong
And so Happy Xmas
(War is over)
For black and for white
(If you want it)
For yellow and red ones
(War is over now)
Let's stop all the fight
A very Merry Xmas
And a Happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Xmas
(War is over)
And what have we done
(If you want it)
Another year over
(War is over now)
A new one just begun
And so Happy Xmas
(War is over)
We hope you have fun
(If you want it)
The near and the dear ones
(War is over now)
The old and the young
A very Merry Xmas
And a Happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over
If you want it
War is over now
Happy Xmas
Happy Xmas
Happy Xmas