Fairytales

About

Fairy Tales is the fourth track on the Christmas Future disc of The Christmas Present. Written by Robbie Williams, Karl Brazil, John Garrison and Martin Terefe, it features a duet with Sir Rod Stewart and stands among the album’s most celebratory moments.

Williams conceived the song after inviting Stewart to dinner and spontaneously asking him to collaborate. He later described Stewart as “one of the voices of the ages” and a personal inspiration, having long admired his career longevity and stage presence. The pair recorded the track under Guy Chambers’s supervision, blending Williams’s croon with Stewart’s distinctive rasp to evoke the warmth of an Irish pub singalong.

The song’s arrangement draws on Celtic folk traditions, complete with fiddle, accordion and a communal rhythm. Its lyrics celebrate friendship, reconciliation and the enduring spirit of Christmas: “Raise up your glass, mighty heathen, raise it up while we’re still breathing.” Williams explained that the line “Bring a friend, we’ll need someone to blame when we’re done” was adapted from an Oscar Wilde quote he had seen on an ashtray while writing in Mustique.

“He’s got one of the voices of the ages, and to be on a track with him is a big honour.”Robbie Williams

Fairy Tales was warmly received by critics and fans, who praised the chemistry between the two singers and the song’s spirited instrumentation. It represents a meeting of eras, bringing together two generations of British entertainers in a jubilant ode to camaraderie and belief.