Bryan Adams unveiled his surprise new Christmas EP Friday, featuring one new original song, “Joe and Mary.”
The new cut reimagines the story of Mary and Joseph as a classic rock and roll love story, with Jesus’ parents fleeing their small town and finding a safe haven for themselves and their unborn child: “Joe and Mary, Mary and Joe in a beat-up Buick on the open road,” Adams sings, “Chuck Berry playing on the radio, Joe and Marry, Marry and Joe.” Adams also announced that he’ll be releasing a video for “Joe and Mary” soon.
The five-track Christmas EP also boasts three previously-released Adams holiday tracks — “Christmas Time,” “Reggae Christmas” and “Merry Christmas” — and a new rendition of “Must Be Santa,” an old Christmas song made famous by Bob Dylan.
“I’m excited to be releasing this Christmas EP,” Adams said in a statement. “It was fun to record some new tracks and make a video for ‘Joe and Mary.’ I can’t wait for everyone to hear them, alongside some of my classic Christmas songs.”
Earlier this year, Adams teamed up with Billy Idol for a North American summer tour. He’s set to play a string of European shows in December. Last year, he performed his hit song “Summer of ’69” with Taylor Swift in Toronto on her Reputation Tour.