Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Sep 21 - 02:45 PM

mentioned earlier

Anti-Carol

I have the LP... haven't played it in years. Maybe I'll rip it.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: clueless don
Date: 07 Sep 21 - 06:57 AM

Bill Steele (RIP) wrote one that he called "A Song for Just After Christmas".

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 07 Sep 21 - 04:08 AM

British Library; The Workhouse Boy was clearly popular, being published in the 1840s in many different editions around the country, from London to Birmingham and Preston.
The music borrowed here is The Mistletoe Bough, a dramatic song published in 1830 about a bride who dies on her wedding night by accidentally locking herself in a chest.

The cloth was laid in the workhouse halls
Greatcoats hung on the whitewashed walls
The paupers all were blythe and gay
Keeping their Christmas holiday

Chorus:
And we all of us say it
And we say it with sneers
Jamie's been murdered by the overseer

You can find the grim conclusion in the DT above.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Sep 21 - 09:47 AM

I would've mentioned Homeless Wassail, but someone already did in 2001.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Sep 21 - 09:45 AM

Could someone explain why the song is "hard hitting"?
Thanks.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Sep 21 - 08:45 AM

From: GUEST,saulgoldie Date: 05 Sep 21 - 04:01 PM Heard "Soul Cake" from Peter, Paul, and Mary.

The words given above differ very little from Souling Song (Cheshire) published by Lucy Broadwood and J A Fuller Maitland, 1893, in English County Songs, London, Leadenhall Press.

Lucy Broadwood's notes: Words and Tune from Rev. M. P. Holme, Tattenhall, Cheshire. The latter part of the second stanza is restored from Miss Burne's Shropshire Folk Lore, p 385. The rest of the song was sung exactly as it stands by a little girl in Tattenhall School in October, 1891. A full account of the custom of "souling" is given by Miss Burne, Shropshire Folk Lore, pp 378-390. It is still practised on All-Souls' Day in the district referred to, and traces of the custom are to be found in many parts of England. See also Halliwell's Popular Rhymes, pp 238 and 249.

Thank you, Joe. http://www.joe-offer.com/folkinfo/songs/216.html

The Antrobus Soul Cakers keep the tradition alive. The bonfires, once part of the same celebration, have been transferred to 5 November.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 06 Sep 21 - 03:54 AM

Soul cakes are baked at Halloween not Christmas.

I quite like them!

Robin

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 05 Sep 21 - 05:16 PM

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning

And what was on those ships all three?

On board those ships were refugees

There's no room here for you to stay

So those three ships they sailed away
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
The Hope, the Faith, the Charity
On Christmas Day in the morning

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,saulgoldie
Date: 05 Sep 21 - 04:01 PM

"Soul Cake?" No one??

"Or Hard Time Come Again No More?"



Heard "Soul Cake" from Peter, Paul, and Mary.


A soul! a soul! a soul-cake!
Please good Missis, a soul-cake!
An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry,
Any good thing to make us all merry.
One for Peter, two for Paul
Three for Him who made us all.

God bless the master of this house,
The misteress also,
And all the little children
That round your table grow.
Likewise young men and maidens,
Your cattle and your store ;
And all that dwells within your gates,
We wish you ten times more.

Down into the cellar,
And see what you can find,
If the barrels are not empty,
We hope you will prove kind.
We hope you will prove kind,
With your apples and strong beer,
And we’ll come no more a-souling
Till this time next year.

The lanes are very dirty,
My shoes are very thin,
I’ve got a little pocket
To put a penny in.
If you haven’t got a penny,
A ha’penny will do ;
If you haven’t get a ha’penny,
It’s God bless you

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 05 Sep 21 - 12:42 PM

Chris Matthews has one that is based upon the Wenceslas tale, but saying "Why did you not take pity on this man before Christmas?".

He says that he got the idea from Terry Pratchett's "Hogfather".

Robin

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Elmore
Date: 05 Sep 21 - 11:06 AM

Not hard=hitting but amusing: Jesus in the Asylum by David Massengill. Can be found on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,RA
Date: 05 Sep 21 - 10:17 AM

'The 1972 Christmas Bombing of North Vietnam" by Dogbowl.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Acorn4
Date: 05 Sep 21 - 04:31 AM

Come Back, Ebenezer!

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Charmion
Date: 04 Sep 21 - 04:35 PM

“First Christmas Away From Home”:by Stan Rogers is almost impossible to perform, and hard to sit through.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Gallus Moll
Date: 04 Sep 21 - 04:23 PM

Has anyone mentioned Eric Bogle's 'Suffer the Children' Christmas song? Short, gentle and hard hitting
Also I think Violet Jacob has at least one Christmas song in the trenches poem/song....I need to find and check her books... not sure that she composed them as dongs, but Jim Reid and others have since put tunes to a number of her works

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: RTim
Date: 04 Sep 21 - 01:36 PM

On Christmas Day - (Traditional English song)

On Christmas Day it happened so
Down in the meadows forth to plough
As we were a ploughing on so fast
Up comes sweet Jesus, himself at last

"Oh man, oh man, what makes you plough
So hard upon the Lord's birthday?"
The farmer he answered him with great speed
"For to plough this day we have great need."

His arms did quaver to and fro
His arms did quaver, he could not plough
The ground did open and let him in
Before that he could repent of sin

His wife and children are out of place
His beasts and cattle, they die away
His beasts and cattle, they die away
For the breaking of our Lord's birthday

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: RTim
Date: 04 Sep 21 - 01:33 PM

HOMELESS WASSAIL
(Ian Robb)

"Wassail, wassail,all over the town,
Our cup is white and our ale is brown"
But huddled on the iron grate
we poor and hungry curse our fate.

cho: No wassail bowl for such as these
No turkey scraps, no ale nor cheese,
This Christmas Eve our heart's desire
Is a bottle of gin and a trashcan fire.

Good Christian, mind, as home you go
With dreams of holly and mistletoe
That the holly bears a dreadful thorn
For those who wake to a frozen dawn.

Oh, where is He, that holy child
Once born of Mary, meek and mild?
And whither peace, goodwill to men
Now and forevermore, amen?

All ye who dine with face aglow
In Reninensi atrio (in the Queen's hall---Latin)
Pray pause awile at pleasure's door
And sup some sorrow with the poor.

"Wassail, wassail,all over the town,
Our cup is white and our ale is brown"
This cold and hunger, pain and care
Sweet Jesus Christ, it's hard to bear.

copyright Ian Robb/SOCAN


Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Daniel Celano
Date: 04 Sep 21 - 11:15 AM

Lyrics to Stan Rogers: Hail to You, Santa Claus

Hail to you, Santa Claus, come to me tonight
I’ve been a thoughtful little boy and I’m tucked in bed so tight
I’ve always done as I was told always what is right
Hail to you, Santa Claus, come to me tonight.

Yesterday, my older brother whispered in my ear
Words that made me want to cry and I didn’t want to hear
He said: “There is no Santa Claus or reindeer for his sleigh,
there are no elves for way up north, just lots of ice and eskimos.
And northern lights stand all the snow and nighttime lasts all day.”

And then I told him mama said that Santa come tonight
And the stocking on the mantle piece would soon be full and tight
And the little angel smiling from atop the Christmas tree
Telling me that I’ve been good reminding me I should recall
The good lord Jesus who once was less than five lightning.

Hail to you, Santa Claus, come to me tonight
Though your legs are weary and your eyes are short of sight
Everybody uses you and says that you’re to blame
Although you still come every year, your toys are not the same.

(Instrumental break)

Last year for a Christmas gift, I got a dear Gaston
And on my birthday, a de-Santa toy made 21
It matches all my toy grenades and the mark I’ve made of bomb
And with my helmet on my head, I shoot my little friends all dead
I load their families all to bed with the soldiers grew aplomb.

My kindergarten teacher tells me to hit all is read
So if Santa comes round here tonight, I’ll hit him on the head
And with my brand-new CIA kit question if until,
My new toy thumbscrew does its job
And he tells me how his reindeer fly
And if I move him for the kill, I’ll drill him for the head
Because he’s a coley and I’m an all American kid.

Hail to you, Santa Claus, flying up so high
And if you come round here tonight, I’ll blast you from the sky
If you get my mind toy radar bow, how that be I can tell
The landmine in the fireplace will blow you straight to Hell.

Hail to you, Santa Claus, better turn and run
Because thanks to democracy, I’ve been brought up to the guns
I’ll make on all your factories, but don't be too reflexed
Here’s to you, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny’s next.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 11 - 11:03 AM

"Wintersong" by Sarah McLachlan always makes me think of images of fallen soldiers, firemen, policemen going by throughout the song. It always gets to me.

Tommy Thompson's "Hot Buttered Rum" has stark imagery that is as real as yesterday.

Bob Gibson & Tom Paxton sing "Box Of Candy And A Piece Of Fruit", another "Christmas In Prison" type song.

I follow those up with Ruthie Ungar's "Darkest Days, Brightest Nights" to get me back on an even keel.

Merry Christmas....

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,giovanni
Date: 12 Dec 11 - 01:37 AM

Kevin Wilson has a hard hitting one about Santa Claus right here

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Clontarf83
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 11:09 PM

Hot Buttered Rum by Tommy Thompson, recorded by Brian Bowers, Album title is By Heart

I also endorse earlier comment re Steve Earle--Nothing but a child Album name Copperhead Road---absolutely original take on Christmas

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,hslauter
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 09:20 PM

I was wondering if you might be able to help me find the name to this song. Christmas song about a boy who writes a letter to Jesus instead of Santa. He writes a letter to Jesus about how Santa has forgot their house , that dad is not there, his sister needs new shoes and his mom needs a warm coat. I have only heard it once and can't find it anywhere on line. Please help!!!

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Gurney
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 02:23 AM

Depends what hits you where.
I think the most powerful carol is 'Adeste Fidelis.' (sp?) As it is mostly in Latin, and uncompromisingly worshipfully Christian, and suitable for a big choral work, it makes most songs sound a bit pathetic.

Haven't sung it for 50 years, since I was an altar boy.

Subject: Lyr Add: NO CHRISTMAS IN KENTUCKY (Phil Ochs)
From: robd
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 01:33 AM

No Christmas in Kentucky
By Phil Ochs

Christmas shoppers shopping on a neon city street
Another Christmas dollar for another Christmas treat
There's satin on the pretty dolls that make the children glow
While a boy walking ragged in the cold Kentucky snow
No, they don't have Christmas in Kentucky
There's no holly on a West Virginia door
For the trees don't twinkle when you're hungry
And the Jingle Bells don't jingle when you're poor

There's lots of toys for children when then Christmas time is near
But the present for the miners is a stocking full of beer
In the dark hills of Kentucky there's one gift that may be found
The coal dust of forgotten days that's lying on the ground
No, they don't have Christmas in Kentucky
There's no holly on a West Virginia door
For the trees don't twinkle when you're hungry
And the Jingle Bells don't jingle when you're poor

Let's drink a toast to Congress and a toast to Santa Claus
and a toast to all the speeches that bring the loud applause
There's not enough to give, no, there's not enough to share
So let's drown the sounds of sorrow with a hearty Christmas cheer
No, they don't have Christmas in Kentucky
There's no holly on a West Virginia door
For the trees don't twinkle when you're hungry
And the Jingle Bells don't jingle when you're poor

Have a merry, merry Christmas and a happy new year's day
For now's a time of plenty, and plenty's here to stay
But if you knew what Christmas was, I think that you would find
That Christ is spending Christmas in the cold Kentucky mine
No, they don't have Christmas in Kentucky
There's no holly on a West Virginia door
For the trees don't twinkle when you're hungry
And the Jingle Bells don't jingle when you're poor

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 09:23 PM

written by Mike Gregory 2006 in the UK

http://www.bigalwhittle.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/christmasontheestate.mp3

Subject: Lyr Add: TENNESSEE SONG (James Agee)
From: Joe_F
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 09:20 PM

They laid down in a cold black barn,
the stars worked through the walls.
The ox and the jackass kept them warm,
a-studying in their stalls.

The old hens grouched along their roost,
the Gobbler riffed his wing.
Out on the mountain niggers heared
the glorying angels sing.

And he come out and took his breath
peaceful as ary mouse.
And in the sky there opened up
A star over that house.

Bashful they come and kneeled them down
before that new borned child.
Good Joseph trimmed the lantern.
The gal laid easy and smiled.

She could a had the best hotel,
doctors, a fine gold ring,
name in the papers and winter flowers,
For He was King.

He could a had the Mayor there,
a-waiting down the string
from the Governor and the President
For He was King.

Ginseng root from Siler's Bald,
a star in the sky, a bird on the wing,
a kiver wove a ripe peach wool,
For He was King.

He could a ordered Summer there,
Summer'd a skipped her Spring.
He could a never come to us.
For he was King.

He did not need no company,
playpretties, nary a thing.
He come to us the manner he come.
For he was King.

-- From "Lines Suggested by a Tennessee Song" by James Agee (ca. 1949)

Subject: Lyr Add: FIRST CHRISTMAS (Stan Rogers)
From: GUEST,Jim C
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 08:57 AM

I see some requests for these lyrics. Very sad Xmas song.

First Christmas (Stan Rogers, 1979)

This day a year ago, he was rolling in the snow
With a younger brother in his father's yard
Christmas break, a time for touching home,
The heart of all he'd known
And leaving was so hard

Three thousand miles away,
Now he's working Christmas Day
Making double time for the minding of the store
Well he always said, he'd make it on his own
He's spending Christmas Eve alone
First Christmas away from home

She's standing by the train station,
Pan-handling for change
Four more dollars buys a decent meal and a room
Looks like the Sally Ann place after all,
In a crowded sleeping hall
That echoes like a tomb

But it's warm and clean and free,
And there are worse places to be
At least it means no beating from her Dad
And if she cries because it's Christmas Day
She hopes that it won't show
First Christmas away from home

In the apartment stands a tree,
And it looks so small and bare
Not like it was meant to be,
Golden angel on the top
It's not that same old silver star,
You wanted for your own
First Christmas away from home

In the morning, they get prayers,
Then it's crafts and tea downstairs
Then another meal back in his little room
Hoping maybe that "the boys"
Will think to phone before the day is gone
Well, it's best they do it soon

When the "old girl" passed away,
He fell apart more every day
Each had always kept the other pretty well
But the kids all said the nursing home was best
Cause he couldn't live alone
First Christmas away from home

In the common room they've got the biggest tree
And it's huge and cold and lifeless
Not like it ought to be,
And the lit-up flashing Santa Claus on top
It's not that same old silver star,
You once made for your own
First Christmas away from home

Here's a link to the tab: Stan Rogers Tabs

Also, I just found this guy on YouTube that sings a few Stan tunes. Very good versions. Newfiefiddler

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 03:30 AM

haven't heard Enoch Kent's Scarlet Ray Guns for a loooooooooong time - wonder if it would stand the test of time.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Mike Scott
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 06:37 PM

He's the little boy that Santa Clause forgot,
And goodness knows, he didn't want a lot.


He sent a note to Santa
For some soldiers and a drum,
It broke his little heart
When he found Santa hadn't come.


In the street he envies all those lucky boys,
Then wanders home to last year's broken toys.
I'm so sorry for that laddie,
He hasn't got a daddy,
The little boy that Santa Clause forgot.


Spoken:
(You know, Christmas comes but once a year for every girl and boy,
The laughter and the joy they find in each brand new toy.
I'll tell you of a little boy that lives across the way...
This little fella's Christmas is just another day.
He's the little boy that Santa Claus forgot,
And goodness knows, he didn't want a lot.)


In the street he envies all those lucky boys,
Then wanders home to last year's broken toys.
I'm so sorry for that laddie,
He hasn't got a daddy,
The little boy that Santa Clause forgot.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Genie
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 05:15 PM

Alternative Christmas songs: Iraq

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,The black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 07:39 AM

It's worth listening to the lyrics of "I believe in Father Christmas" from ELP, particularly if you want powerful peace message with a more humanist slant on Christmas.
"They told me a fairy story, 'til I believed in the Isrealite"

Works well on concertina, including the instrumental classical cribs.

Subject: Lyr Add: WINTER SONG (Alan Hull)
From: Shields Folk
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 05:20 AM

WINTER SONG (~1970 by Alan Hull, Lindisfarne)

When Winter's shadowy fingers first pursue you down the street
And your boots no longer lie about the cold around your feet
Do you spare a thought for Summer whose passage is complete
Whose memories lie in ruins and whose ruins lie in heat
When Winter.... comes howling in

When the wind is singing strangely, blowing music through your head
And your rain-splattered windows make you decide to stay in bed
Do you spare a thought for the homeless tramp who wishes he was dead
Or do you pull your bed-clothes higher, dream of Summertime instead
When Winter.... comes howling in

The creeping cold has fingers that caress without permission
And mystic crystal snowdrops only aggravate the condition
Do you spare a thought for the gypsy with no secure position
Who's turned and spurned by village and town and the Magistrate's decision
When Winter.... comes howling in

When the turkey's in the oven and the Christmas presents are bought
And Santa's in his module - he's an American astronaut
Do you spare a thought for Jesus, who had nothing but his thoughts
Who got busted - just for talking, and befriending the wrong sorts
When Winter.... comes howling in
When Winter.... comes howling in

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 05:09 AM

Peter and Lou Berryman again...

"Gonna have a big dead bird for dinner on Christmas day!"

Art

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 04:12 AM

Moving On Song, McColl

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 04:03 AM

probably not your sort of thing but my latest christmas song

http://www.bigalwhittle.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/haveadrinkitschristmas.mp3

merry christmas to all

big al whittle

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Dec 06 - 07:51 PM

Thirty years ago Adrian May and Chris Leger toured the clubs with a Christmas Show of all self penned stuff ! 'I Hate Christmas' has a nice dig at all the wrong things about The Season !

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Ref
Date: 04 Dec 06 - 07:22 PM

In the film "Joyeux Noel" (a fictionalized version of the Christmas Truce) there is a haunting song that repeats "dreaming of home." It's sung by the Scottish soldiers and comes up again at the end as the german participants are sent to the Eastern front. Fine film.   Wonderful Song. If anyone else knows it and/or its provenance, please inform me. I'd love lyrics and tabulature.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: scrimnet
Date: 04 Dec 06 - 01:51 PM

It was Christmas day in the cookhouse
The season of good cheer
The soldiers hearts were merry
Their bellies full of beer
The pompous orderly officer
As he strolled around the hall
Called out "A merry Christmas!"
The soldiers answered "balls!"

This angered the orderly officer
And he swore by all the Gods
He'd stop their Christmas pudding
The ungrateful little sods
Then up spake a bald headed corporal
His face as bold as brass
"You can take your Christmas pudding
And shove it up your arse!"

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: breezy
Date: 04 Dec 06 - 01:01 PM

'Without you on Christmas Day' by George Papavgeris written in 2002

About the family matriarch

It works and Ive seen it work when performed by the author, more than once

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: eddie1
Date: 03 Dec 06 - 08:34 PM

"Standing In The Rain" by Sydney Carter is a good one.

Eddie

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS 1914 (Cormac MacConnell)
From: Hawker
Date: 03 Dec 06 - 06:25 PM

Found this on an old thread......
May save you some time if you wanted to use it....

This beautiful song was written by Cormac MacConnell, the brother of Mudcatter Chordstrangler (Mickey MacConnell) who has recorded it on his CD "Joined Up Writing." You can PM Mickey right here to order his superb recording.

Seamus


CHRISTMAS 1914   by Cormac MacConnell

In the year 1914 on Christmas Day,
On the Western front the guns all died away.
And lying in the mud on bags of sand
We heard the German sing from No Man's Land.
He had a tenor voice so clear and true;
The words were strange, but every note we knew.
A-soaring o'er the living, dead and damned,
That soldier sang of peace from No Man's Land.

Chorus: Oh, Silent night, no cannons roar.
A King is born of peace for ever more,
All's calm, all's bright, all brothers hand in hand,
A Soldier's song of peace from No Man's Land.

They slowly left their trenches, we left ours.
Beneath tin hats the smiles bloomed like wild flowers.
With photos, cigarettes and flasks of wine,
We made a soldier's peace on that front line.
Their singer was a lad of twenty-one;
We begged another song before the dawn,
And sitting amid carnage, death and fear,
He sang again the song all longed to hear.

Chorus:

In the morning all the guns roared in the rain,
And they killed us and we killed them again
With bayonet, bomb and bullet, gas and flame
And neither them nor us at at all to blame.
There was heavy fighting all throughout that day.
For one night's peace we bitterly did pay.
That night they charged, we fought them hand to hand
And I shot the lad who sang from No Man's Land.
Chorus:

Oh, Silent night, no cannons roar,
A king is born of peace for ever more.
All's calm, all's bright, all brothers hand in hand,
A soldier's song of peace from No Man's Land.
O Silent night, Holy night,
And his ghostly voice still rings
As the young dead soldier sings
Where the Captains and the Kings
Built No Man's Land.

Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Artful Codger
Date: 03 Dec 06 - 02:52 PM

The Smothers Brothers' "Monday We Saw on TV". I believe I posted the full lyrics in a different thread some time ago. It's a cumulative song, like "The Twelve Days of Christmas", and starts:

Monday we saw on TV a toy to buy for Christmas:
A sexy Sally doll with skin-tight stretchpants.
Oh boy, oh boy, we really gotta get that toy!


[Includes a coupon for a Baby Jesus action figure: fries heretics with his laser eyes! Ox and ass sold separately.]

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: open mike
Date: 03 Dec 06 - 02:21 PM

I would second Jackson Browne's Rebel Jesus.

and John McCutcheon's christmas in the trenches.

and suggest you check out the Canadian duo of
Connie Kaldor and Bim who have great collection
on their "New Songs for and Old Celebration"
which includes my favorites "Cowboy Christmas"
(where Shepherds were the cowboys of Gallilee)
and another one "Last Month of the Year" that
has a gospel/spiritual feel to it..


and the song The Gift (which is sung by Garth Brooks)
was written by Stephanie Davis, who asks that you
credit her with composing the song. www.stephaniedavis.net

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Hawker
Date: 03 Dec 06 - 02:13 PM

For me the finest and very hard hitting Christmas song is Christmas 1914 by Cormac McConnell
A very cleverly written and moving song. I sang it at our Christmas do last year and there was not a dry eye in the room (i don't think it was my singing, I hope it was the song!)
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Wayne
Date: 03 Dec 06 - 01:49 PM

Tom Pacheco's Christmas on Times Square (Jimmy the Fiddler) to be found on Woodstock Winter or Swallowed up in the Great American Heartland, is a heart rending song. Both albums are still available.

Loudon Wainwright's Christmas Morning from Social Studies is shocking. I was dumbstruck when I first heard it.

Fairy Tale in New York still packs a punch despite being belovrd of the Christmas compilation album compilers.

On the traditional front, The Mistletoe Bough which recalls the oft told tale of a bride getting locked in a trunk during a game of Hide and Seek, is pretty hard hitting too. The version I know is on Calennig's excellent A Gower Garland.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 03 Dec 06 - 01:26 PM

100

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Ron
Date: 03 Dec 06 - 11:55 AM

"First Christmas Away From Home" by Stan Rogers

Subject: Lyr Add: RUN, RUN, RUDOLPH (from Chuck Berry)
From: Tweed
Date: 21 Nov 01 - 07:58 PM

How 'bout Chuck Berry's "RUN, RUN, RUDOLPH"? Hit 'em hard and low...make their feet start moving ;~)

Out of all the reindeer, you know you're the mastermind
Run, run, Rudolph. Randolph's not too far behind.

Run, run, Rudolph. Santa's got to make it to town.
Santa, make him hurry. He can take the freeway down.
And away went Rudolph, whizzin' like a merry-go-round.

Said Santa to a boy child, "What have you been longing for?"
"All I want for Christmas is a rock 'n' roll electric guitar."
And away went Rudolph, whizzin' like a shooting star.

Run, run, Rudolph. Santa's got to make it to town.
Can't you make him hurry? (Tell him) he can take the freeway down.
And away went Rudolph a-whizzin' like a merry-go-round.

Said Santa to a girl child, "What would you like most to get?"
"I want a little baby doll that can cry and scream and wet."
And away went Rudolph, whizzin' like a saber jet
Run, run, Rudolph. Run, run, Rudolph.
Run, run, Rudolph. He's runnin' like a sonofagun.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: CaptainLewis
Date: 21 Nov 01 - 07:26 PM

How about "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

Best!

-CLB

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Joe_F
Date: 21 Nov 01 - 06:58 PM

Three tasteless whimsies and a recommendation:

Hark, the herald angels sing:
Glory to the newborn Thing,
Which, because of radiation,
Will be cared for by the nation.

-- E. Gorey
*
It came upon a midnight clear
And ate up everything in sight.
*
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
O piss on thee, O Christmas tree.
*
For a hard-hitting Christmas *story*, read Chapter Ten, "The Ritchies Take Christmas", in Jean Ritchie's _Singing Family of the Cumberlands_, which I am glad to see is still in print. Read it aloud, even if you can't do that without crying, and sing the songs as you go. This is the best of Christmas and of Christianity.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: robomatic
Date: 21 Nov 01 - 06:22 PM

"Gun for Christmas" by Wall of Voodoo

"Christmas Amoeba" by Steve Lyons, from the album "No Place Like Mars" heard once on the radio and haven't been able to locate a copy or anyone who has it

"All I Want for Christmas is my two front teeth" Spike Jones, Maybe more hard hittin' than hard hitting.

Pax to you too

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 21 Nov 01 - 05:11 PM

Hey, we're back again - thanks, Kaleea and Genie, that last one's a cracker. It reminds me of a village in Zambia where our charity works - the village artist has painted the Last Supper as a mural, and of course Jesus and the disciples are all African. Doesn't half surprise some people...

For the record, so to speak, those suggestions of 'Mary Did You Know?' got it on to our finished CD. Some of the others, ncluding that last one, are being done live.

Very many thanks, everyone.

- IanB

Subject: Lyr Add: SOME CHILDREN SEE HIM (Hutsun/Burt)
From: Genie
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 10:31 PM

Here is Burt's carol with the line breaks (as well as my somewhat audacious [?] third verse) added.   (You can, of course, edit that one out to keep the song pure.)   - Genie
 

Some children see Him lily white, the baby Jesus born this night.
Some children see Him lily white, with tresses soft and fair.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown, The Lord of heav'n to earth come down.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown, with dark and heavy hair.

Some children see Him almond-eyed, this Savior whom we kneel beside.
Some children see Him almond-eyed, with skin of yellow hue.
Some children see Him dark as they, sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray.
Some children see him dark as they, and, ah! they love Him, too!

If Jesus had been born a girl, this baby born to save the world,
If Jesus had been born a girl, just like her mother mild,
The miracle would be the same, that down to us on earth therecame
A gift by heav'nly hosts proclaimed, God's blessed Holy child.
 

The children in each different place will see the baby Jesus' face
Like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace, and filled with holy light.
O lay aside each earthly thing and with thy heart as offering,
Come worship now the infant King. 'Tis love that's born tonight!

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Kaleea
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 01:29 AM

Alfred Burt wrote this Christmas Carol in 1951:

Some children see Him lily white, the baby Jesus born this night. Some children see Him lily white, with tresses soft and fair. Some children see Him bronzed and brown, The Lord of heav'n to earth come down. Some children see Him bronzed and brown, with dark and heavy hair. Some children see Him almond-eyed, this Savior whom we kneel beside. some children see Him almond-eyed, with skin of yellow hue. Some children see Him dark as they, sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray. Some children see him dark as they, and, ah! they love Him, too!

The children in each different place will see the baby Jesus' face like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace, and filled with holy light. O lay aside each earthly thing and with thy heart as offering, come worship now the infant King. 'Tis love that's born tonight!

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 01:01 PM

Anybody ever heard of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra? Here's their web address (sorry, don't know how to post a link.) Check 'em out. Helluva good guitarist (Al Pitrelli). Click on the Christmas Eve link.

Happy Christmas!

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Genie
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 01:40 AM

Now that the little goblins are all in bed, they can start dreaming visions of sugarplums and Tickle-Me-Elmo. So here's a refresh of this thread, to get folks thinking about not-so-ordinary Christmas songs.

G

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Steven G.
Date: 22 Oct 01 - 02:45 PM

Yes, Claymore. I agree with you on Stan Rogers "First Christmas "

I played the song a few times, and when you sing the song you sort of have a tear in your eye while playing this song.

Quite hard hitting song to play...

Steven G.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 22 Oct 01 - 02:27 PM

Another vote for "First Christmas" by Stan Rodgers. A truely stunning work, about young man's first Christmas away from his family, an abused daughter away from her father, an old man's first Christmas after his wife has died, etc. If someone could research the verses, I'm sure many would appreciate it.

Also on a more humerous vein, we used to sing a song in the 'Nam called "The Night We Gunned Down Santa Claus", about how "Ho, Ho, Ho" did not squak "Friendly" on the IFF and "Merry Christmas" was not the password. Santa augers in with only Rudolph trying to pull him up, and the Marines eat vension that glows red in the dark.

I'm sure that some sort of similar song will come out the the 'Ghan, with a first verse that goes, "By the light of burning turbans, sing we Noel", or something like that.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: tar_heel
Date: 22 Oct 01 - 12:49 PM

how about,an old christmas card,by jim reeves...

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 22 Oct 01 - 04:59 AM

I have not read the whole thread, so I'm sorry if this has come up. Ewan McColl's Moving On song is not an Xmas song but with its references to the Wise Men and the refrain Better get born in someplace else, the analogy to the Xmas story is very clear.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Genie
Date: 22 Oct 01 - 12:09 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Haruo
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 10:26 PM

Jesus was homeless as an adult, too. Don't forget "Tramp on the Street" and the like.

Liland

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 19 Sep 01 - 10:50 PM

Kathy Mattea sings a song about "Just Another Homeless Family," but I am not sure that's the title.
Genie

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Steven G.
Date: 19 Sep 01 - 02:11 PM

I think someone wrote on this threat Stan Rogers "First Christmas". It is quite a hard hitting Christmas song, and would you think that at Christmas time, it is all nice and festive, but to some people it is another day to survive.

Quite a moving piece of work,

Steven G.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 10:59 PM

I'm glad I could help, Ian. Sadly, the events that triggered my thoughts of this song were -- well, you know.

Genie

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 05:48 PM

Thanks Genie - I was just looking for something like that!

- ian

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 04:39 AM

Ian,

Joe Offer has posted the full text of Longfellow's original poem--written in 1864 and published in 1867--along with a link to the story of how the poem and the carol came to be. (See "Lyric Req:"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day")

BTW, I'm not sure how I got " some foul dragon's mouth" out of "each black, accursed mouth," but it looks like my memory got imaginative. The two verses I was seeking are:

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
    And with the sound
    The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
    And made forlorn
    The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

These are the fourth and fifth verses of Longfellow's poem.

Please check out the "I Heard The Bells" thread for further discussion.

Genie

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 02:10 AM

not sure how Christmasy it is, but I remember hearing many years ago a song that was rather popular at the time called Dear Mr. Jesus. it was sung by a little girl and it was about child abuse.

Subject: Lyr Add: I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 01:52 AM

Ian,
The events of the past week have reminded me of Longfellow's poem, "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day," which he wrote when he heard the bells ringing on Christmas Day in, I believe, 1860, and looked out the window and saw cannons firing, as the US North and South fought each other. [Note: The posting below says 1865, but I know that was not when he was inspired to write the poem, because the Civil War was over before then.]

I am posting here the lyrics that most people sing today, but I hope someone out there has the other two verses, one of which begins
"Then as from some foul dragon's mouth,
The cannon thundered from the South ... ."

I have these verses in a book somewhere, but I think I will post a lyric request in the mean time.
Genie

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1865


I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And, wild and sweet, the words repeat of
peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The bellfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th'unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till, ringing, swinging on its way,
The world revolved from night to day.
A voice, a rhyme, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head.
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"for hate is stong and mocks the song
of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud & deep,
"God is not dead, nor does he sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Subject: Lyr Add: NOTHING BUT A CHILD (Steve Earle)
From: Susan from California
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 11:54 AM

I second the nod for "Mary, Did You Know?" Keith and I do it in a rock version and if I do say so myself it kicks butt :-)

One of my favorites is Steve Earle's "NOTHING BUT A CHILD". It's on the CD Copperhead Road, and I believe on the above-mentioned Kathy Mattea CD (though I prefer Earle's version).

Once upon a time, in a far off land,
Wise men saw a sign, and set out cross the sand.
Songs of praise to sing, they traveled day and night,
Precious gifts to bring, guided by the light.

Chased a brand new star, ever towards the west ,
Across the mountains far, but when it came to rest,
They scarce believed their eyes; they'd come so many miles.
This miracle they prized was nothing but a child.

CHORUS: Nothing but a child could wash those tears away,
Or guide a weary world into the light of day,
And nothing but a child could help erase those miles,
So once again we all can be children for a while.

Now all around the world, in every little town,
Every day is heard a precious little sound,
And every mother kind, and every father proud
Looks down in awe to find another chance allowed.

REPEAT CHORUS

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 30-Nov-02.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,KT
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 09:57 AM

Ian, I don't think this one has been mentioned, but it's a beauty! Mary, Did You Know?

by Mark Lowry

I like Kathy Mattea's version on her album, GOOD NEWS.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Dan in Nova Scotia
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 09:30 AM

Actually there's a song called 'Here's to You Santa Clause', written by Stan Rogers, which talks about a kid who asks Santa for CIA equipment for Christmas and when he receives it he tortures Santa to find out how reindeer fly. The last line in the song is "Here's to you Santa Clause the Easter Bunny's next".

Also don't forget Arlo's Pause of Mr. Clause.

Cheers,

Dan

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,genie
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 03:09 AM

Por nada, Ian. Genie

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,ray bucknell
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 08:23 PM

The Chad Mitchell Trio's "Twelve Days" (to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas) about neo-Naziism in Cold War Germany: let's see if I remember...

He is still alive....

Monicles are back, ten swastika scribblers, got the wrong Eichmann, Telefunken H-bomb, seven million dollars, six guided missiles, to hell with Adenhaur (sp?), four Gestapo leaders, three anti-Semites, Rudolph Hess' blessings and a partridge in a pear tree.

Chilling is an understatement.

Ray

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 07:28 PM

Thanks, Genie! - ian

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 01:58 PM

Lindisfarne did one called Winter Song which has a sting in its tail.
Mike Harding also wrote one about Christmas 1914 in the trenches - I cannot recall the correct title.
Don't forget the one by Greg Lake of ELP.
Quack!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE REBEL JESUS (Jackson Browne)
From: GUEST,genie
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 08:56 AM

Ian, You may have found it already, but here are the words to Jackson Browne's song which I mentioned above.

THE REBEL JESUS
(Jackson Browne)

Original recording from the Chieftains album The Bells Of Dublin

The streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
As the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tales
Giving thanks for all God's graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

They call him by the "Prince of Peace"
And they call him by "The Saviour"
And they pray to him upon the sea
And in every bold endeavor
As they fill his churches with their pride and gold
And their faith in him increases
But they've turned the nature that I worshipped in
From a temple to a robber's den
In the words of the rebel Jesus

We guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why they are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus

But pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgement
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In this life of hardship and of earthly toil
We have need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure and I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus.

(c) 1991 BMG MUSIC

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: SDShad
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 12:38 PM

Dar Williams, "The Christians and the Pagans"

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: dbranno
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 10:58 AM

Christmas where the gum trees grow, there is no frost and there is no snoooow... different time zones...sense of humour?
Here's one From Don Henderson (the boy from Moonee Ponds) 'round 19&70... works well as a talking blues.

I was walking late last night.
It was half past four and nearly light.
A man came up and grabbed my shirt,
Pulled my beard 'til it hurt,
Hit me once and then again,
Said, "Peace on earth, goodwill to men."

I went down to St. Vincent's,
Rang the bell in outpatients.
The sister looked up in dismay,
Said, "Third beatnik we've had today."
Took me up a passage and through some doors,
Said, "Are these two friends of yours?"

One of them was a nice old chap
In red pyjamas and a red nightcap,
Silver whiskers on his chin.
I said, "You look like Tom O'Flynn."
"That is true," he said, "but he
Is also said to look like me."

The other bloke of which I speak
Was some kind of Wop, Yid, Spag or Greek.
Had no shoes upon his feet,
And was wearing just a worn-out sheet.
I asked him why he was dressed like that.
He said, "Mix up at the Laundromat?"

I asked him just what he was here for.
He answered me that he wasn't sure.
I said, "Are you sick?" He said, "Nup,
I'm not sick; I'm just hung up."
I looked for the scars where the nails went through.
He said, "I'm only 32."

I asked him what he did for a crust.
He said, "None of your business, but if you must,
I'm saving the world." I said, "Oh.
How is business?" He said, "Slow."
A doctor came and took him away.
I said, "See ya, mate, and happy birthday."

Whew!
Fond regards (not the Xmas album, please! not that recorrrdddd!) davo

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 30-Nov-02.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: raredance
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 09:41 PM

The "?" should be """ in the Brodsky title

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: raredance
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 09:40 PM

A couple I don't think have been mentioned yet.

"Detroit December" by Si Kahn

"On Christmas I Got Nothing? by Chuck Brodsky

rich r

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Willa
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 05:58 PM

KimC; the Garth Brooks song is 'The Gift', begins
A poor orphan girl named Maria
Was walking to market one day,
She stopped for a rest by the roadside,
Where a bird with a broken wing lay

Garth Brooks, 'Beyond the Season

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: lady penelope
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 03:17 PM

Beyond the realm of folk, there is, of course, "Christmas with the Devil" by Spinal Tap. It sounds rediculous, till you think about the 'oxymoron' nature of the song.

TTFN M'Lady P.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Kim C
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 01:31 PM

I love that Robert Earl Keen song!!! It's just too true.

One I haven't learned, that I have liked over the years in spite of my NOT being a Garth Brooks fan, is the song he does about the little girl who buys the nightingale in the market. I'm sorry I don't know the name of it.

Also there's one called Corn, Water and Wood that Michael Martin Murphey recorded on Cowboy Songs Christmas (the first one, I think). Very nice.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Sarah2
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 01:25 PM

And really off the wall, there's an old song by one W. Nelson called "Pretty Papers" that's simple sounding -- until the words start to register.

S.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Walking Eagle
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 12:46 PM

How about The Little Match Girl?

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Bluegrass Girl
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 10:48 AM

How about "Another Silent Night" written by Patrick H Ashley. It's a true story - about a fellow whose wife died of breast cancer just before the Holidays, leaving him with two little boys to raise.

I've never performed this song without several people in the audience crying. It's a killer tune!

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: SharonA
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 10:22 AM

Serious song: "Circle of Steel" by Gordon Lightfoot.

Not-so-serious songs: "Zat You, Santa Claus?" by Louis Armstrong.
"Big Dead Bird" by Lou and Peter Berryman.
Also, The Arrogant Worms have a Christmas CD entitled "Christmas Turkey". My favorite from that is "OH GOD, I'M SANTA CLAUS" (guy dreams he's Santa, then wakes up to find that he's really the Easter Bunny).
The Bob Rivers comedy troupe has 2 Christmas collections (that I know of) that include parodies such as "We Wish You Weren't Living With Us".

Dare I say that I've written some myself? One is the Christmas story from Joseph's point of view (a lot of people find that song hard-hitting; some are offended by Joseph's language during the "anger" stage of his reaction to Mary's pregnancy); another song bemoans the difficulties encountered by a Protestant woman celebrating the holidays with her Jewish boyfriend. Got 4 more songs besides.

SharonA

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: dbranno
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 10:09 AM

Hard hitting Xmas songs ,eh? Always loved that Exiles song, still think of it as 'Thank X for Xmas' McColl's 'Moving on Song' IS moving, and a rare gem is Sydney Carter's 'Standing in the rain'

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: LR Mole
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 09:48 AM

"The Rebel Jesus", sung by Jackson Browne, is also on "The Bells of Dublin". Good Chieftans background on The Day because the song goes by and the relatives don't notice the words.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 09:02 AM

Ah yes, I'd forgotten the Tom Lehrer... got it on tape somewhere. My 13-year-old, showing uncommon good taste, has removed my Best of Lehrer to become part of his bedroom collection of 'going to sleep by' tapes. I shudder to think what effect it'll have on him...!

- Ian

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: pavane
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 05:08 AM

Tom Lehrer's satirical song is worth a try: Christmas Time. The song contains many parodies of well known Christmas carols and songs.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 03:16 AM

I can't believe I almost forgot "HEY SANTA!" by Kevin Bloody Wilson!

One of MY favorite x-mas songs!!

;-)

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Anglo
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 03:06 AM

Another one that I don't think has been mentioned is the Ditchling Carol. Recordings on one of the Waterson:Carthy CDs, also on Nowell Sing We Clear "Just Say Nowell."

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: mbridgham
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 02:59 AM

Here's a couple.

"Christmas Song" by Jethro Tull(mentioned already) "Another Christmas Song" by Jethro Tull(mysterious but wonderful) on Rock Island "Jack Frost & The Hooded Crow" by Jethro Tull(another great song in the best folky Tull vein) On 20 year anniversary CD's

"St Stephen's Day Massacre". Sung by Elvis Costello( I think) on Chieftain's Christmas Album(about relatives at Christmas)

"Over the Hill and Over the Dale" by the same guy who wrote Good King Wenceslas. A great song about the 3 wise men. Good version by William Pint and Felicia Dale on their Drive the Cold Winter Away CD.

"Tomorrow Will Be My Dancing Day". Not a hard-hitting song, but not your usual complacent Christian metaphor either. Usually turns people's heads a bit, and its a lovely song besides, don't you know. Love the line - "In a manger wrapped and laid was I..Between an ox and a silly old ass". I haven't wondered who that was:)

"There was a Pig Went Out to Dig." The kids like it.

I used to cry every time I sang "The Christmas Dinner" by Peter, Paul and Mary. Haven't sung it for years and can't remember it all anymore.

"Down in Yon Forest" has some pretty powerful images.

Oh, and how can I forget my favorite Christmas song. "The Christmas Hare" about hunting by public bus in the midlands of England. A great tune and song. Can't remember where I picked it up anymore. It's a wild ride, the rabbit dies. YOu can always follow it up with The Creggan White Hare if people get too maudlin over the bunny.

Ian, let me know if you want help with any of these.

Frankie Armstrong's version of "Anti-Carol" always curled my toes, too.

Marc Bridgham

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From:
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 12:57 AM

Try Homeless Wassail by Finest Kind -- traditional folk group out of Ottawa. Quite poignant lyrics, goes over well with audiences. About the holidays from the perspective of the homeless.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 12:08 AM

G'day IanB,

I was working down, tinking of suggesting Ewam McColl's Moving On Song ... but I see the Keith suggested it. It is subtle ... but has a hard hit for those who think ...

On another point, John McCutcheon's Christmas in the Trenches and the events of 25 December 1914 came to my mind the other day when, in a totally different line of research, I came upon the note that "The Germans first threw grenades in to English trenches on 27 December 1914".

There is no mention of dates for English grenade use, but they had seen trench warfare in the Russo-Japanese war of a few tears before and went into WWI with one crude grenade ... a dodgy glass jar of high explosive on the end of a stick and fitted with a contact fuse. Many struck the trench wall and killed the thrower. It all brings you back to earth even more abruptly that John McCutcheon's last verse.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 10:27 PM

I always thought Merle Haggard's "If We Make It Through December was a hard-hitting Christmas song and, judging from the search hits I got, I think people all over the world must agree.

For a hard-hitting Christmas Song that's really old, you can't beat "The Cherry Tree Carol".

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From:
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 08:47 PM

burl mentioned Enoch Kent's version of Xmas song.Living in London then it really rang true,as it does today.Recorded on an "Exiles" L.P, the other performers were Gordon McCulloch and the late Bobby Campbell.I think it was on "The Freedom Come all Ye" record.Well worth getting.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE BOY THAT SANTA CLAUS FORGOT
From:
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 03:10 PM

IanB, do you know this one?

THE LITTLE BOY THAT SANTA CLAUS FORGOT
Tommie Connor, Jimmy Leach and Michael Carr

Christmas comes but once a year for ev'ry girl and boy,
The laughter and the joy they find in each toy.
I'll tell you of a little boy who lives across the way;
This little feller's Christmas is just another day.

He's the little boy that Santa Claus forgot,
And goodness knows he didn't want a lot.
He sent a note to Santa for some soldiers and a drum;
It broke his little heart when he found Santa hadn't come.

In the street, he envies all those lucky boys,
Then wanders home to last year's broken toys.
I'm so sorry for that laddie;
He hasn't got a daddy,
The little boy that Santa Claus forgot.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From:
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 06:40 AM

Jeeneia mentioned this verse of WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and lamb [ass] are feeding? Good Christian, fear, for sinners here The silent word is pleading. Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you. Hail! Hail the Word made flesh, The Babe, the son of Mary

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From:
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 06:27 AM

Sorry. I left my hotmail box unattended too long and it went extinct. You can reach me at onebox.com.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Robin2
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 01:19 AM

Joe,

Any idea where I could find a recorded copy of "Merry Christmas from the family"? The first time I heard that song, we were driving through Philly at midnight on December, and I laughed so hard I cried.

Robin

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 12:01 AM

Willa, that is a very touchng song. Thanks for posting it.

kat

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 11:51 PM

There's a third verse to What Child is This? with the words "Nails,spears, shall pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you..." It's got power, see if you can locate the rest of it.

Subject: ADD: Sleigh Ride parody
From: bobbi
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 10:23 PM

Okay.. I cave in at last... This IS hard hitting.. to say the least. It is raw edged..without a doubt.. and it reminds me of what Xmas was all about when I was married (another holiday.. another "leg" night)..

Author Unknown:
Sung to the tune of Sleigh Ride
~ ~ ~

I feel my pecker tinglin', balls are jinglin' too,
Come on and tell me whether I can link 'em together with you.

I need a hot slit mommy, to slip my salami into.
I must be over eager 'cause even your beaver will do!

Get it up, get it up, get it up, let's go..
Your butt is too slow..
Start hoppin' like a rabbit in the snow...
Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, my Dear,
hot jiz in your ear.
I know it's not easy for you hangin' from that chandlier.

I need a new position for sperm worm fishin' with you..
I want to jam my putts in with both of my nutts in your shoe..

I feel my pecker tinglin' balls are jinglin' too,
C'mon and be so pleasant while I pump my present in you!

b

Subject: Lyr Add: MAKE MY PRESENT SMALL (Bob Coltman)
From: GUEST,guest--Pat Nowell
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 09:13 PM

Bob Coltman recorded a thought provoking song in 1985 on the BMI label, called

MAKE MY PRESENT SMALL

Santa Claus I'm writing to you with extra special care.  
This request's important; please grant it this year.  
I'm asking for just one thing, and it is for us all.  
Not asking much for me alone, so make my present small.  
  
REFRAIN:  
Make my present small, just peace on earth for all,  
Real peace on earth, good will to men,  
And make my present small.  
  
I know I've asked you other years  
   for trains and other toys.  
But Santa, this year simply bring  
   joy to all girls and boys.  
To hungry ones please bring them food  
   to chilly ones bring fire,  
And Santa, bring them, if you can,  
   peace for their hearts' desire.  
REPEAT REFRAIN  
I know this letter's getting long,  
   and there's so little time,  
But Santa, bring an end to all the hurtfulness and crime.  
To every face please bring a smile,  
   to every heart a kiss.  
I'd forfeit all my Christmas gifts  
   if you would just do this.  
REPEAT REFRAIN

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Amos
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 06:30 PM

I believe Condolezza Schwartz recorded a tune called "Fuck You -- It's Christmas" for Backbite Records, but the management decided not to include it in her actual CD.

Guess it would be pretty valuable if you caould get ahold of the master, therefore!

A

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From:
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 06:10 PM

There's a charming ditty by Eric Bogle 'Santa Bloody Claus'

Jack

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 02:36 PM

Enoch Kent wrote a marvellous Christmas satire to the tune of 'Mary's Boy Child'. It's on 'Revival In Britain' Folkways FW8728. "Christmas comes but once a year, So the holy bible say. And man must stash his cash all year, because of Christmas Day. All the stores were gaily garnished, tinsel and imitation snow. And we look forward to Christmas day and we hope we have the dough."

Subject: Lyr Add: SUDDENLY IT'S CHRISTMAS (L Wainwright)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 01:55 PM

Maybe I missed it but no one has mentioned Tom Lehrer's soulful Christmas song: Christmas time is here, by golly...

Then there's Loudon Wainwright's lovely song:

SUDDENLY IT'S CHRISTMAS
(Words & Music by Loudon Wainwright III
© 1993 Snowden Music Inc.
Slightly adapted by Charlie Ipcar - 1993)

  G               D            G      D  G C
  Suddenly it's Christmas, just after Halloween;
      G               D            C            D
  Forget about Thanksgiving, that buffet in between;
           G                D                       G      D    G   C
  There's lights and tinsel in the shops, they're stocking up the shelves;
   G              D                      C        D      G
  Santa's slaving at the Pole with his sweatshop full of elves.

There's got to be a build up for the day that Christ was born;
The malls are decked with pumpkins and ears of Injun corn;
Dragging through the falling leaves in a one-horse open sleigh;
Suddenly it's Christmas, seven weeks before the day.

          C               G            D       G D G
  CHORUS: Suddenly it's Christmas, the longest holiday
         C                 G                           C    G   D
  When they say "Seasons Greetings!", they mean just what they say;
          G              D            G     D  G C
  It's a season, it's a marathon – retail eternity,
               G              D               C             G
  And it's not over 'til it's over and you throw away the tree.

Outside it's nice and balmy, in the air nary a nip;
Suddenly it's Christmas, Santa's on his trip;
Yes, they're working overtime, Santa's little runts;
Christmas comes but once a year – and hangs on for two months.

Christmas carols in December, and November too;
It's no wonder we're depressed when the whole damn thing is through;
Finally, it's January, drag out Auld Lang Syne;
And here comes another heartache shaped like a valentine.

Chorus:

Suddenly it's Christmas, the longest holiday;
The season is upon us – it just won't go away;
It's a season, it's a marathon – retail eternity,
And it's not over 'til it's over and you throw away the tree;
No, it's not over 'til it's over and you throw away the tree;
It's still not over 'til it's over and you throw away the tree.

HTML preformat commands added. --JoeClone, 30-Nov-02.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 01:08 PM

Take Uncle Dave's Table Grace by the Berrymans, switch it from Thanksgiving to Christmas and make people laugh and cry at the same time.

Subject: Lyr Add: A CHRISTMAS CAROL (G. K. Chesterton)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 10:38 AM

Depends what you mean by contemporary. Here is something Chesterton dashed off when he read a piece in the paper "The chief constable has issued a statement declaring that carol singing in the streets by children is illegal and morally and physically injurious. He appeals to the public to discourage the practice." This would have been about 1925. Not much changes does it?

God rest you merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay;
The Herald Angels cannot sing,
The cops arrest them on the wing,
And warn them of the docketing
Of anything they say.

God rest you merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay;
On your reposeful cities lie
Deep silence, broken only by
The motor horn's melodious cry
The hooters happy bray.

So when the song of children ceased
And Herod was obeyed,
In his high hall Corinthian
With purple and with peacock fan,
Rested that merry gentleman;
And nothing him dismayed.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 09:57 AM

Oh blast - Jeanene, my e-mails to you keep coming back undelivered. Yes please to the alternative carols.

- Ian

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 09:54 AM

Blimey, we're going get an album out of this. Willa, that's a lovely final couplet in that song of yours, and thanks Nutty, I'm still laughing at the line in the Tawney song where he tries to ram the carol singer's lantern down his throat...

Still researching the rest, and thanks again.

- Ian

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 09:49 AM

Ewan MacColl again.Look at The Moving On Song.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: nutty
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 07:39 AM

In a lighter vein there's ....THERE ARE NO LIGHTS ON OUR CHRISTMAS TREE .......a Cyril Tawney classic and it's in the DT

Subject: Lyr Add: SHOEBOX CINDERELLA (Willa)
From: GUEST,Willa
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 06:32 AM

This is a song I wrote in '99


The Yorkshire Post's Christmas Appeal is for shoeboxes filled with small gifts, for children in Romania. Some of the children are living in rubbish dumps, some need hospice care, but can only be admitted when they are considered to have less than 5 months to live.

SHOEBOX CINDERELLA

Shoebox Cinderella, said the headline, and it brought an image straight into my mind
Of lonely Cinderella in the ashes, with her ugly sisters, jealous and unkind.
But this Cinderella's in a war-torn country, in a hospice, living out her little time.
No glass slippers for her feet, just a shoebox full of treats,
Grim reality's no happy pantomime.

There's a child among the ashes; can you bring a little smile
To her life of desperation – lift her spirits for a while?
As the clock ticks on to midnight there will be no magic spell,
And there'll be no happy ending, just the tolling of a bell.

CHORUS

She's a shoebox Cinderella, but this is no pantomime.
And there'll be no transformation, for she's running out of time.

In her rags amidst the squalor, cold and hungry, she's alone.
Will you lift the deadly pallor, do you have a heart of stone?
Fill that box with things to cherish, though so little, though so late,
In a life that is so hellish, how can you ignore her fate.

CHORUS

Though a shoebox full of treasures, just to show that someone cares,
Seems so pointless, seems so futile, in a life of such despair.
What can I do?, is it worth it?, will it help?, can I be sure?
Do the little that you can do; yes, then do a little more.

CHORUS

Subject: ADD: Merry Christmas from the Family ^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 04:05 AM

I don't know if this is "hard-hitting," but it's an interesting scoial commentary. A woman in our song circle does a great job of it.
-Joe Offer-

---

Merry Christmas From the Family
(Robert Earl Keen Jr)

G Mom got drunk and C9 Dad got drunk
G At our Christmas C9 party
G We were drinkin' Em champagne punch
And C homemade eggDnog
G Little sister brought her C9 new boyfriend
G He was a C9Mexican
G We didn't know what to Em think of him
'Til he C sang Feliz NaviDdad
Feliz NaviGdad

Brother Ken brought his kids with him
The three from his first wife Lynn
And the two identical twins
From his second wife MaryNell
Of course he brought his new wife Kaye
Who talks all about AA
Chain smokin' while the stereo plays
Noel, Noel, The first Noel

CHORUS:

D Carve the turkey turn the ball game on
C Mix Margaritas when the eggnog's gone
D Send somebody to the Quik-Pak store
C We need some ice and an extension cord
D A can of bean dip and some Diet Rite
C A box of tampons and some Marlboro Lights
G Hallelujah everyEmbody say cheese
C Merry Christmas from the DfamiGly

Fran and Rita drove from Harlingen
I can't remember how I'm kin to them
But when they tried to plug their motorhome in
They blew our christmas lights
Cousin David knew just what went wrong
So we all waited on our front lawn
He threw the breaker and the lights came on
And we sang Silent Night
Oh Silent Night

CHORUS:

Carve the turkey turn the ballgame on
Make Bloody Marys cause we all want one
Send somebody to the Stop 'n Go
We need some celery and a can of fake snow
A bag of lemons and some Diet Sprite
A box of tampons and some Salem Lights
Hallelujah everybody say cheese
Merry Christmas from the family

Feliz Navidad.^^

---

Added to the Digital Tradition Oct 01

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Lucius (cookieless again)
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 03:49 AM

Maybe not that hard hitting, but how about Joni Mitchells' River; The Pogues Fairytale of New York; and ELPs' Father Christmas, all contempory. If I had to pick one, it'd be Christmas in the Trenches.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 02:49 AM

Ewan MacColl's "Ballad of the Carpenter"? (as recorded by Phil Ochs)

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 02:39 AM

Wow, now I've gone through them, there's some powerful stuff in there:

"For it isn't to the palace that the Christ child comes But to shepherds and street people, hookers and bums"

... which is exactly right for the things we're doing. And on that same clicky, Alex, was a super song called Soul of a Man. We'll have that as well!

Cheers, - Ian

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 02:27 AM

Cor, go to sleep for five minutes and I wake up to a day's research!!! Many thanks indeed. - Ian

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From:
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 01:38 AM

Not fully contemporary (in some of its specific ad references) but Stan Freeburg's "Green Christmas" is a classic satire and protest of the commercialization of Christmas.

There's also a sad Spanish Christmas song called "Pobres Huerfanitos (sp?).

Tish Hinojosa also has a song called "Jesse" on her Christmas album (tape or CD) about a girl in the housing projects. It's a positive outlook song but I think you might find it fits with your category.

I also have some "alternative christmas carols" (parodies about the excesses and abuses of Christmas) which I can email you if you like.

If you're looking for silly stuff, of course, there's "Walking 'Round In Women's Underwear," and "I Yoost Go Nuts AT Christmas."

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From:
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 01:21 AM

There's a song called The Rebel Jesus, sung, I think, by Jackson Browne and someone else. It is hard hitting, to say the least . I wish I could remember the lyrics, but you can probably find it through mudcat. In fact, I'd like to get the lyrics and chords myself.

J

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: JohnB
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 11:09 PM

OK Anglo, you beat me to the Homeless Wassail. Didn't the Kipper Family do something suitable too ? Although I don't remember what. You could try the Hungry Child, not sure who wrote it but Young Tradition did it. JohnB

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: khandu
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 10:43 PM

Tune of "Deck the Halls"

"Screw the poor, the sick, the needy,

Fa la la la la la la la la

Tis the Season to be greedy"

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Anglo
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 09:59 PM

You should definitely check out Ian Robb's "Homeless Wassail" which I believe is on the latest Finest Kind CD, more than likely available from Camsco Music...

More contemporary than WWI, anyway, though I certainly won't deny the power of the songs mentioned above.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 09:47 PM

Ian, I'd like to say something different, but all I can do is throw in my vote for both Christmas in the Trenches and 1913 Massacre(e). Both are really great and if you can sing Christmas in the Trenches without a few tears being shed, including your own, you're a better man than I am Gunga Din! Hard hitting? Man, it's hard to beat this:

Than daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"

OR

But the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same.

Geeziz.....It just doesn't get any stronger than that. A really exquisite piece of work.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: late 'n short 2
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 09:25 PM

How about John Denver's Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas. He played and sang it up tempo like a kid might sing it but the story is by no means light.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 07:55 PM

I believe "Christmas in the Trenches" is the greatest anti-war song of all time. Bravo, John McCutcheon.

- LH

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Gareth
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 07:33 PM

"Twas Christmas Day in the Work House,
and that Christmas it was cruel,
The lads they had nothing to eat,
excepting a bowl of Gruel.
In came the balliff's daughter
She came to bear the brunt,
Oh what do you want for Christmas Lads ?
And they answered - "Oh Tidings of comfort and Joy ....

Gareth

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: GUEST,Eileen
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 07:26 PM

"Silent Night" by Simon & Garfunkle.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 05:45 PM

John Gorka's version of "I Heard The Bells On X-mas Day"
Oh soooo sweet!

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 05:39 PM

The Eagles did a Christams song that was 12 bar blues.

Don't remamber the name but it starts out something like

Bells will be ringing their sad sad songs.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: nutty
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 05:28 PM

Season of Peace by Si Khan

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 05:27 PM

Stan Roger's "First Christmas"
Jethro Tull's "A Christmas Song"

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 05:23 PM

There is Woody Guthrie's "1913 Massacree"... another true story.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 05:23 PM

Anti-Carol by John Pole. It's in the DT.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: RWilhelm
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 05:22 PM

"Christmas in Prison" is a quirky Christmas song by John Prine on his CD "Sweet Revenge." And let me be the frist to mention "Fairy Tale of New York" by the Pogues. A harder-hitting Christmas song I can't imagine. The lyrics have been posted here several times.

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 05:15 PM

"Come Rejoice" by Judy Collins from the CD of the same title. About the homeless.

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES (J McCutcheon)
From: Trapper
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 05:14 PM

How about this one?

- Al

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES Author:John McCutcheon

My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

I was lying with my messmates on the cold and rocky ground
When o're the field of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, ``Now listen up, me boys!'' each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
``He's singing bloody well, you know!'' my partner says to me
then one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war

As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
``God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen'' struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was ``Stille Nacht.'' ``Tis `Silent Night','' says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
``There's someone coming toward us!'' the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night

Then one by one on either side walked into "No Man's Land"
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave them hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played the squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men

Than daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
``Whose family have I fixed within my sights?''
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed when songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd built between us to exact their work of war
Were crumbled and were gone forevermore

My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
But the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same

---

Also in the Digital Tradition and in Christmas in the Trenches thread group.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: mousethief
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 05:13 PM

Have you heard Cockburn's "Cry of a Tiny babe"? It sets my teeth on edge, and I'm a huge Cockburn fan! :o)

cf: blicky

Alex

Subject: Know any hard-hitting christmas songs?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 04:50 PM

Happy Christmas… and although this year I will dutifully turn up to play the carols and applaud the nativity shows, three of us have an idea to offer something additional to the church and community here in Oxfordshire. We're putting together, both on record and 'live' in pubs/town square, a programme of tougher raw-edge stuff, to remind people what the season is really about.

We're doing OK for some hard-hitting poems, drama, stories and the oddball bits such as the television psalm, 'The 23rd Channel' (if you don't know it and want the words, let me know!). But songs, I'm short of. Can anyone lead me to any contemporary 'make people think' songs about Christmas?

And I can't think if there has ever been a Christmas blues… although now I've written that, I can think of several Catters who will probably compose one instantly.

All the best – Ian B