Carols often retell familiar stories, but the viewpoint from which they're told can give them new meaning. "I Am a Carpenter (Joseph's Song) [Live at St. Patrick's]" by Cher & Gene Klosner looks at the birth of Jesus through Joseph's eyes. The live recording mixes classical crossover, acoustic storytelling, and a huge community choir.
The song presents Joseph as an ordinary carpenter with an extraordinary task. After seeing the birth of Jesus in a dream, he accepts the task of caring for Mary and raising the child with love, guidance, and protection. The emotional core of the composition is faith, humility, and fatherhood, which give the Christmas story a personal dimension. The song is about the devotion that is required of the one who is charged with caring for it.
The live arrangement gives a wide musical setting for this story. The piano, guitar, and cello combine acoustic intimacy with a more expansive theatrical presentation, with more than 80 members of a community choir joining in. The performance was recorded in a church sanctuary and is said to build from a soft beginning to a bigger, more expansive sound. The arrangement shifts from individual storytelling to communal celebration as it builds.
"I Am a Carpenter (Joseph's Song)" first appeared on YouTube and has since been performed by choirs on six continents. The song acknowledges the need for protection, responsibility, and love and celebrates Jesus as Emmanuel, King of Kings, and Prince of Peace. Cher and Gene Klosner give voice to a popular point of view, enabling a familiar story to be viewed through the quiet commitment of a father.
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