Sir Cliff Richard has a surprising idea for his next Christmas chart challenge: give "The Lord Is My Shepherd" a reggae rhythm. The 86-year-old singer has revealed that he is working with Chris Eaton, the songwriter behind "Saviour's Day," on a fresh musical treatment of Psalm 23-bringing one of the Bible's most familiar passages into unexpected territory.
Richard discussed the project during an October 18 conversation event at the Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames. The evening, hosted by broadcaster Iain Dale, included questions and a playback of his forthcoming album, Only Number Ones, giving fans an opportunity to hear about his plans beyond the record.
"I've never sung reggae before but Chris is really good at it," Richard said, according to remarks reported by The Sun and reproduced by Gold Radio. He explained that Eaton's phrasing was requiring him to learn a different approach to singing, and admitted that he had yet to master the song.
That admission gives the announcement its intrigue. Richard is discussing a musical experiment still taking shape, with a trusted collaborator helping him approach a style he says he has never sung before. The reports reviewed do not establish a confirmed release date for the track.
For Christian listeners, the biblical choice offers another reason to pay attention. Psalm 23 speaks of the Lord's guidance, provision and presence through danger and death. A reggae setting could introduce those words to listeners who encounter the passage more often at church services and funerals than through a pop release.
The collaboration also reconnects Richard with an important part of his Christmas history. Eaton wrote "Saviour's Day," which reached the UK Christmas No. 1 spot in 1990. Their latest project brings them back to explicitly biblical material more than three decades after that success.
Richard has previously carried religious words into the mainstream charts with "The Millennium Prayer," his 1999 hit combining the Lord's Prayer with the melody of "Auld Lang Syne." The proposed Psalm 23 recording would continue that public expression of faith while testing a different musical direction.
Whether it becomes another festive chart contender remains to be seen. For now, Richard has supplied an attention-grabbing premise: a familiar psalm, a proven songwriting partnership and a veteran performer willing to learn a new groove.
