The following words of wisdom and satire were written in the early 50's by an American singer called Tom Lehrer,for a song called, not surprisingly 'A Christmas Carol'. Tom was known for his slightly jaded outlook on life and American culture. Most of his stuff was banned.
The lyrics say it all:
One very familiar type of song is the christmas carol. although it is perhaps a bit out of season at this time. however, Im informed by my disk jockey friends - of whom I have none,
In order to get a song popular by christmas time, you have to start plugging it well in advance. so here goes. it has always seemed to me after all. that christmas, with its spirit of giving
us all a wonderful opportunity each year to reflect on what we all most sincerely and deeply believe in.
I refer of course, to money. and yet none of the christmas carols that you hear on the radio or in the street, even attempt to capture the true spirit of christmas as we celebrate it in the United States
,that is to say the commercial spirit. so I should like to offer the following christmas carol for next year, as being perhaps a bit more appropriate.
Christmas time is here, by golly,
Disapproval would be folly,
Deck the halls with hunks of holly,
Fill the cup and dont say when.
Kill the turkeys, ducks and chickens,
Mix the punch, drag out the dickens,
Even though the prospect sickens,
Brother, here we go again.
On christmas day you cant get sore,
Your fellow man you must adore,
Theres time to rob him all the more
The other three hundred and sixty-four.
Relations, sparing no expensell
Send some useless old utensil,
Or a matching pen and pencil.
Just the thing I need! how nice!
It doesnt matter how sincere it
Is, nor how heartfelt the spirit,
Sentiment will not endear it,
Whats important is the price.
Hark the herald tribune sings,
Advertising wondrous things.
God rest ye merry, merchants,
May you make the yuletide pay.
Angels we have heard on high
Tell us to go out and buy!
So let the raucous sleigh bells jingle,
Hail our dear old friend kris kringle,
Driving his reindeer across the sky.
Dont stand underneath when they fly by.
Actually I did rather well myself, this last christmas. the nicest present I received was a gift certificate good at any hospital for a lobotomy. rather thoughtful.
