I was reminded of this beautiful song by Meg Washington’s stellar performance on Christmas Eve – Carols by Candlelight 2024 (from 57:30: in the video below). I have written a lot about the significance of this occasion in my recent Christmas Countdown and after my children and I ate our Christmas Dinner which I’m proud to exclaim I prepared and consisted of the following:
Turkey with plum sauce, Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Capsicum (image inset) and Desert (drum roll) – Chocolate Cake – sugar free but still delicious. It may well have been the first Christmas meal I prepared, but the votes are in and the computer says ‘Yes’. The kids devoured it like there was no tomorrow.
So where was I going with all this? Oh yes, after dinner we watched the highlights of Melbourne’s Christmas Carols which were presented Christmas Eve – Australian time. I have watched this presentation since I was wee-tacker and I think that the ‘2024 carols’ was the best I have seen. There were so many fantastic versions of the Carols which most of us are accustomed hearing, but the one that made the greatest impression on my son and I was Megan Washington’s – 2000 miles by the British-American rock band Pretenders. I have presented both versions below. Megan it seems, well at least to my senses, found the epicentre of this ballad and let it ride. I am still enamoured with it and for that reason I wanted to post it as soon as I could.
[Verse 1] He’s gone 2,000 miles Is very far The snow is falling down It’s colder day by day I miss you
[Chorus] The children were singing He’ll be back at Christmastime
[Verse 2] And these frozen and silent nights Sometimes in a dream You appear Outside, under the purple sky Diamonds in the snow Sparkle
[Chorus] Our hearts were singing It felt like Christmastime
[Bridge] 2,000 miles Is very far through the snow I’ll think of you Wherever you go
The following was extracted from the Wikipedia references below:
2000 Miles is a song by British-American rock band Pretenders and written by lead vocalist Chrissie Hynde. It was released on 18 November 1983 as the second single from their third studio album, Learning to Crawl. It was most popular in the UK, where it peaked at No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart. Influenced by Otis Redding’s “Thousand Miles Away“, the song was written a year after the band’s guitarist, James Honeyman-Scott, had died of a drug overdose in 1982. Hyde has noted that she thinks “the sense of distance in the lyrics” refers to Honeyman-Scott.
Megan Alexanda Washington (born 7 January 1986) – a fellow Capricorn – YAY… is an Australian musician, songwriter and voice actor who has worked mononymously as Washington. Originally performing jazz music, her style shifted to indie pop and alternative rock. From her four albums, two albums I Believe You Liar and There There reached the top 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Megan Alexanda Washington was born on 7 January 1986 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea to Australian parents. She grew up with her father, Rick Washington, a part-time DJ for “weddings, parties and balls“; her mother, Karen Amos, and an older sibling.
Let’s kick it off with singer-songwriter and pianist Norah Jones who I dug from the get-go since she burst on the scene in 2002 with her chart-topping and award-winning debut album Come Away With Me. Initially focused on lounge jazz, Jones has since evolved and infused elements of blues, country, folk and pop in her music. Sunrise, co-written by Jones and Lee Alexander, is from her sophomore release Feels Like Home (see image below) from February 2002. It also appeared as a single and became her first to top Billboard’sAdult Alternative Airplay chart.
I felt indifferent to Norah Jones initially because one of her big songs (perhaps Don’t Know Why) saturated the radio waves. I pigeon-holed her into lounge jazz music – a genre of music I wasn’t particularly fond of. Some in jest even called her ‘Snorer’ Jones. However, my blogger friend Christian introduced me to some of Norah’s music that I hadn’t encountered before, including today’s featured song – and I liked them a lot. Her breezy, catchy sound and relaxed demeanour bring to mind the Mexican singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas, whom I recently featured.
The following information was extracted from the Wikipedia reference below:
In 2004, the folk ballad reached number four in Canada and number 30 in the United Kingdom. Despite failing to chart on the US Billboard, the single was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies. The song won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2005 Grammy Awards. The American singer-songwriter and musician Norah Jones born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar has sold more than 53 million records worldwide. As stated above, she launched her solo music career with the release of Come Away with Me.
Jones is the daughter of Indian sitarist and composer Ravi Shankar, and is the half-sister of fellow Indian musicians Anoushka Shankar and Shubhendra Shankar. She was born in1979, in Manhattan, New York City. After her parents separated in 1986, Jones lived with her mother, growing up in Grapevine, Texas. As a child, Jones began singing in church and also took piano and voice lessons. Her music took its first form early on in the local Methodist Church where she regularly sang solos. While in high school, she sang in the school choir, participated in band, and played the alto saxophone. At the age of 16, with both parents’ consent, she officially changed her name to Norah Jones.
Jones always had an affinity for the music of Bill Evans and Billie Holiday, among other “oldies”. She once said, “My mom had this eight-album Billie Holiday set; I picked out one disc that I liked and played that over and over again“. She attended Interlochen Center for the Arts during the summers. While at high school, she won the Down Beat Student Music Awards for Best Jazz Vocalist. Jones attended the University of North Texas (UNT), where she majored in jazz piano and sang with the UNT Jazz Singers.
In 1999, Jones left Texas for New York City. Less than a year later, she started a band with Harris, and her recordings with them were bestsellers. Jones was a lounge singer before becoming a recording artist. Before releasing her first studio album, she performed with Wax Poetic, Peter Malick, and jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter.
[Verse 1] Sunrise, sunrise looks like mornin’ in your eyes But the clock’s held 9:15 for hours Sunrise, sunrise couldn’t tempt us if it tried ‘Cause the afternoon’s already come and gone
[Chorus] And I said, “Hoh, ooh, hoo, ooh Hoo, ooh, hoo, ooh Hoo, ooh, hoo, ooh” To you
[Verse 2] Surprise, surprise, couldn’t find it in your eyes But I’m sure it’s written all over my face Surprise, surprise, never something I could hide When I see we made it through another day
[Chorus]
[Bridge] Now, the night will throw its cover down Mm, on me again Ooh, and if I’m right, it’s the only way To bring me back
Happy Christmas all! It has become a Christmas Day ‘festive tradition’ at Observation Blogger to present the story called The Small One. It is about a young boy living in ancient Israel who must part with his beloved, ageing donkey, Small One, as the family can no longer afford to keep him. Despite his father’s insistence, the boy is determined to find a kind and caring buyer for his loyal companion. This and Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince which accompanies it on the LP (see image above) are two of the most touching and poignant short stories I have ever had the privilege to hear.
According to Wikipedia: The Small One is a Charles Tazewell story with musical accompaniment from Victor Young and his Orchestra. Charles Tazewell was a radio playwright and children’s book author, whose work has been adapted multiple times for film…..
At Observation Blogger, I’m fortunate to have a small yet dedicated group of readers. To those of you who connect with me—whether it’s daily, weekly, or whenever you can—I want to take a moment to wish you and your loved ones a truly joyful and Merry Christmas. Your thoughtful insights and engagement have been the heartbeat of this journey; without them, I might have stepped away long ago. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart, and here’s to you—cheers, my dear friends! Merry Christmas.
Happy Christmas Eve (Esp. La vispera de Navidad) everybody! I wrote in my ‘Christmas Countdown’ description how the songs were shared in no particular order, but I make an exception with today’s sacred song. We have arrived at the Christmas song I consider ‘the cream of the crop’, ‘the crown jewel’, ‘the summit’, and my ‘Desert Island’ XMAS choice. This is the fifth time I have referred to it in my blog. Put simply, nothing jolts me more into the religious and festive spirit of Christmas than listening to ‘O Holy Night‘.
I have presented below my two favourite versions of the song. They are from the singers pictured above, namely Aled Jones and David Hobson; the latter having appeared two times already in the top 10 Christmas Countdown list with No. 8 Oh Come, All Ye Faithful and No. 4 Holy City.
Aled Jones is a Welsh Christian singer. The version below shows when he was a teenage chorister prodigy and as a fully – grown adult. It splices the two ‘selves’together at the end which enriches the occasion and cements Jones’ legacy as a grandiose multi-generational British entertainer.
David Hobson is hands down my favourite Christmas Carols singer. The Australian tenor and composer has lavished Australian households with his impeccable voice on Christmas eve in Melbourne for decades now. I agree with Mum…I haven’t heard his equal sing at Carols.
[Verse 1] O Holy night!The stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth Long lay the world in sin and error pining ‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born O night, O Holy night, O night divine!
[Verse 2] Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming Here come the Wise Men from Orient land The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger In all our trials born to be our friend He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger Behold your King; before Him lowly bend Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
[Verse 3] Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is Peace Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother And in His name, all oppression shall cease Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we Let all within us Praise His Holy name Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever! His power and glory evermore proclaim His power and glory evermore proclaim
Two other versions I really like of O Holy Night are the following:
Patti Smith’s introspective version – Live at the Vatican! The violin instrumental is sublime.
The Wiggles – This version could make the Carol traditionalist cry in their weetbix, but what the heck, we were kids once too.
The following is an extract from the Wikipedia reference below:
“O Holy Night” (original title: Cantique de Noël) is a sacred song for Christmas performance. Originally based on a French-language poem by poet Placide Cappeau, written in 1843, with the first line “Minuit, Chrétien, c’est l’heure solennelle” (Midnight, Christian, is the solemn hour) that composer Adolphe Adam set to music in 1847. The English version (with small changes to the initial melody) is by John Sullivan Dwight. The carol reflects on the birth of Jesus as humanity’s redemption.
Happy XMAS (War is Over) is one of my family’s favourite secular Christmas songs. The song appears on John Lennon’s posthumous compilation The John Lennon Collection shown inset. I don’t know how many times I put the needle down on this record as a kid, but it was a lot. We had one of those old wooden turntables which look like a dresser, and I remember sitting at the front of the fireplace and listening to it. I have to add here, Yoko’s vocals in the chorus – A very merry Christmas / And a happy New Year are magnificent and make the hairs on my arms stand up on end.
Happy XMAS (War is Over) was released as a single by John & Yoko/The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir in 1971. Lennon became the first Beatle to release a Christmas song after the band’s demise and it was his seventh single outside his work with the Beatles. The song reached number four in the UK, where its release was delayed until November 1972, and has occasionally re-emerged on the UK Singles Chart, most notably after Lennon’s murder in December 1980, when it peaked at number two.
John Lennon said he wrote it “because I was sick of White Christmas,” but this song also serves as a powerful protest song against the Vietnam War. This song came on the heels of two years of activism by John Lennon & Yoko Ono. They had already been spreading the message “WAR IS OVER! If You Want It – Happy Christmas from John & Yoko” on posters and such around the world (as seen above). Backing vocals on the song are also provided by the Harlem Community Choir — a powerful choice of using children to deliver an anti-war message.
[Intro: Yoko Ono & John Lennon] Happy Christmas, Kyoko Happy Christmas, Julian
[Verse 1: John Lennon] So this is Christmas And what have you done? Another year over And a new one just begun And so this is Christmas I hope you had fun The near and the dear ones The old and the young
[Chorus: Yoko Ono & Harlem Community Choir] A very merry Christmas And a happy New Year Let’s hope it’s a good one Without any fear
[Verse 2: John Lennon & Harlem Community Choir] And so this is Christmas(War is over) For weak and for strong(If you want it) The rich and the poor ones (War is over) The road is so long (Now) And so happy Christmas (War is over) For black and for white (If you want it) For yellow and red ones(War is over) Let’s stop all the fight(Now)
[Verse 3: John Lennon & Harlem Community Choir] And so this is Christmas (War is over) And what have we done? (If you want it) Another year over (War is over) And a new one just begun (Now) And so happy Christmas (War is over) We hope you have fun (If you want it) The near and the dear ones (War is over) The old and the young (Now)
Today’s featured Christmas song sitting at No. 3 in my Christmas Countdown is Must Be Santa by Bob Dylan. It is the second song from Bob Dylan’s unexpected 2009 release Christmas in the Heart which ventures into the Christian festive realm of Winter Wonderlands, Noels, Santa Claus, and Silver Bells. The highlight from the album is Must Be Santa – a polka-meets-klezmer romp which happens to be my children’s favourite Christmas tune. This song gets plentiful joyful spins in our household every Christmas season.
Must Be Santa was written by Hal Moore and Bill Fredericks and first released in November 1960 by Mitch Miller. This song was based on a German drinking game, with the lyrics taking on a ‘call and answer’ structure… “Who’s got a beard/That’s long and white?/Santa’s got a beard/That’s long and white.” Bob Dylan’s 2009 version from his Christmas in the Heart album is based on an arrangement by Brave Combo, whose version he had played on Theme Time Radio Hour. 11 years after its release, Must Be Santa placed 24th in a Rolling Stone article about the “25 Best Bob Dylan Songs of the 21st Century” where critic Amanda Martoccio called the song “zany” and the “centerpiece” of Christmas in the Heart.
[Verse 1] Who’s got a beard that’s long and white? Santa’s got a beard that’s long and white Who comes around on a special night? Santa comes around on a special night
[Chorus 1] Special night, beard that’s white Must be Santa, must be Santa Must be Santa, Santa Claus
[Verse 2] Who wears boots and a suit of red? Santa wears boots and a suit of red Who wears a long cap on his head? Santa wears a long cap on his head
[Chorus 2] Cap on head, suit that’s red Special night, beard that’s white Must be Santa, must be Santa Must be Santa, Santa Claus
[Verse 3] Who’s got a big red cherry nose? Santa’s got a big red cherry nose Who laughs this way: “Ho, ho, ho”? Santa laughs this way: “Ho, ho, ho”
The following was extracted from my friend Max’s post on Must Be Santa at his PowerPop blog.
All of the profits from this album went towards Feeding America Crisis, and the World Food Program. In 2009, Dylan told Bill Flanagan that he had intended to make a Christmas record for some time: “Yeah, every so often it has crossed my mind. The idea was first brought to me by Walter Yetnikoff, back when he was President of Columbia Records.”
If you want to know what Dylan considers to be a great Christmas meal… it would consist of “Mashed potatoes and gravy, roast turkey and collard greens, turnip greens, biscuit dressing, cornbread and cranberry sauce.”
Bob Dylan:“This version comes from a band called Brave Combo. Somebody sent their record to us for our radio show [Theme Time Radio Hour]. They’re a regional band out of Texas that takes regular songs and changes the way you think about them. You oughta hear their version of ‘Hey Jude.’”
Hello all! I hope you are having a merry festive season. Yesterday I was unable to post due to a electricity cut in my sector, so today I will release two Christmas songs from my Christmas Countdown in quick succession. The Christmas Countdown of 10 of my favourite Christmas songs and hymns (shared in no particular order) will carry us right up to Christmas Eve. So let’s get moving…
As I mentioned in a recent post, the Australian tenor David Hobson (pictured above) is hands down my favourite Christmas Carols singer. He recently appeared here at No.8 with the Australian Soprano and Marina Prior in their superb rendition of Oh Come, All Ye Faithful. David now takes on the classic religious Victorian ballad, The Holy City (Jerusalem). I’ve always found this piece resolute and uplifting. Few Christmas songs appear as demanding to perform, yet Hobson delivers it masterfully. It’s remarkable how he sustains such vocal strength and clarity throughout the performance.
There are several recordings of Hobson performing this song at Melbourne’s Carols by Candlelight, but I’ve chosen the 2014 rendition. Imagining the atmosphere of that live event is almost overwhelming – it must have been magical to witness in person. For me, this ranks as one of the greatest live performances I’ve ever encountered. I hope you find it as inspiring as I do.
Last night I lay a-sleeping There came a dream so fair, I stood in old Jerusalem Beside the temple there. I heard the children singing, And ever as they sang, Me thought the voice of angels From heaven in answer rang.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Lift up your gates and sing, Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to your King!
And then me thought my dream was changed, The streets no longer rang, Hushed were the glad Hosannas The little children sang. The sun grew dark with mystery, The morn was cold and chill, As the shadow of a cross arose Upon a lonely hill.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Hark! How the angels sing, Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to your King!
And once again the scene was changed; New earth there seemed to be; I saw the Holy City Beside the tideless sea; The light of God was on its streets, The gates were open wide, And all who would might enter, And no one was denied. No need of moon or stars by night, Or sun to shine by day; It was the new Jerusalem That would not pass away.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Sing for the night is o’er! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna for evermore!
The following was extracted from the Wikipedia reference below:
The Holy City dates from 1892, with music by Michael Maybrick writing under the alias Stephen Adams, with lyrics by Frederic Weatherly. Its sheet music sales made it one of the most commercially successful songs in the UK and United States around the beginning of the 20th century, and also “perhaps the most pirated musical piece prior to the Internet“, according to copyright scholar Adrian Johns.
The three verses of the song describe in turn, a crowd cheering Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus’s crucifixion on Good Friday, and the eventual “New Jerusalem” (Zion) of universal peace and brotherhood, which is foretold in Isaiah 2:4 and Isaiah 11:6-9.
Advent marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical calendar, commencing on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continuing until Christmas Eve. Derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival,” Advent embodies a time of anticipation and reflection. In our household, however, the season also signifies the return of Dylan’s album Christmas in the Heart, which is lovingly dusted off and given a joyful spin on the turntable. This brings us to one of the album’s standout moments—what I consider a true highlight—Little Drummer Boy.
Little Drummer Boy has always held a cherished place in my heart, dating back to my childhood days. When news broke of Bob Dylan’s upcoming 2009 album, Christmas in the Heart, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of cynicism, even bordering on disbelief. Dylan – my musical hero, and a man of Jewish heritage, no less—was venturing into the Christian festive realm of Winter Wonderlands, Noels, Santa Claus, and Silver Bells. It felt like an unlikely fit, to say the least.
Much like my initial reservations about his Sinatra-inspired detour with Shadows in the Night – an album I eventually grew to admire – my scepticism toward Christmas in the Heart slowly melted away. Over time, what once seemed incongruous transformed into a source of amusement, comfort, and, ultimately, celebration. The album’s charm crept in unexpectedly, solidifying its place in our holiday tradition. At the end of the day, Bob has earned he right to record anything he wants.
[Verse 1] Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum And so to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum When we come
[Verse 2] Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum That’s fit to give a King, pa rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum On my drum On my drum
[Verse 3] Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum Me and my drum Me and my drum
Most of the following was extracted from the Wikipedia reference below:
The Little Drummer Boy (originally known as “Carol of the Drum”) is a popular Christmas song written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941 and first recorded in 1951 by the Austrian Trapp Family,
In the lyrics, the singer relates how, as a poor young boy, he was summoned by the Magi to the Nativity of Jesus. Without a gift for the Infant, the little drummer boy played his drum with approval from Jesus’s mother, Mary…Despite the song’s popularity, the story of the drummer boy is not biblically accurate.
Inspiration for “The Little Drummer Boy” came to Davis in 1941. “[One day], when she was trying to take a nap, she was obsessed with this song that came into her head and it was supposed to have been inspired by a French song, “Patapan”, explained Fontijn. “And then ‘patapan’ translated in her mind to ‘pa-rum-pum-pum’, and it took on a rhythm.” The result was “The Little Drummer Boy“.
I point you to an interesting rendition by an unlikely duo, which my friend Max recently wrote about – Bing Crosby and David Bowie’s “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy“. In 1982 it reached No. 3 on the UK chart.
Finally, something I’ve always dreamed of – my very first christmas special! Come along with me as we celebrate holiday cheer with my family and friends. grab some cookies and hot cocoa and settle in for some of my favourite songs off my new album ‘songs for christmas’
– Christina Perri
The music of Christina Perri has featured here more than twice as much as any other female music artist. It will come as no surprise to anyone who has followed my blog that Perri is my favourite female music artist and balladeer. Perri will always deliver a brilliant catch phrase and / or intonation of a word which just makes my heart melt. I find it impossible not to get lost in Perri land.
Last year she launched her California Christmas special which features two Christmas songs I am enamoured with. The first: her very own penned Christmas song called Christmas Dream and the second Marshmallow World written in 1949 and performed by Bing Crosby. Christina is self effacing and lighthearted as she welcomes us into her gorgeous home. Her vocals here are coolly soulful. Her ability to shape a ‘new’ sound with her instinctive inflections or raising the octave despite the overall ‘tranquil’ and resolute tone is something to behold.
The special includes playful ribbing by her husband Paul Costabile; who you may remember appeared in the last ‘merry-go-round’ scene of Perri’s legendary Evergone track with their eldest daughter Carmella Stanley. Yesterday’s XMAS launch also includes Carmella’s 1 year – old sister Pixie Rose; who was the focus of Perri’s spectacular nursery song – Pixie Dust. Once again Christina Perri’s guitarist and back-up singer Johnny Hanson is there to solidify her music sanctuary along with her other ‘favourite person’ Emily Frost on keys and backup.
The showmanship by Bruce and the E Street Band in their version of today’s featured track – Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town is nothing short of pulsating and rousing. It’s not Christmas time until Springsteen says it is! Just listen to the big man – Clarence Clemons hone in on his baritone Santa Claus voice with – ‘You Better Be Good For Goodness Sake‘. That alone shifted my Family’s Christmas spirit levels up another notch as we watched it yesterday morning over breakfast.
Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town doesn’t reference Christian theology, nativity scenes, or biblical themes, which are hallmarks of religious Christmas songs. Instead, it emphasizes Santa, gift-giving, and behavior (“better watch out”), making it part of the more commercial and festive side of the holiday. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town is one of my favourite secular Christmas songs, and I suspect it holds a special place in my kids’ merry hearts as well. But! Wait for it (drum roll)………., it can’t top their excitement for the song ranked No. 3 in my Christmas countdown, which I’ll be sharing this Sunday.
The following contain extracts from the Wikipedia reference below: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” is a Christmas song written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, and first recorded by Harry Reser and His Orchestra. When it was covered by Eddie Cantor on his radio show in November 1934 it became a hit; within 24 hours, 500,000 copies of sheet music and more than 30,000 records were sold.
The song has been recorded by over 200 artists. The version by Bruce Springsteen was first recorded on December 12, 1975, at C. W. Post College in Brookville, New York. This version borrows the chorus refrain from the 1963 recording by the Crystals. It was first released as a track on the 1981 Sesame Street compilation album, In Harmony 2…Springsteen’s rendition of the song has received radio airplay perennially at Christmastime for years. This version remains a Springsteen concert favorite during the months of November and December (often concluding the show), and the band is among the few that keep it in their roster of songs during the holidays.
[Spoken Intro] It’s all cold down on the beach The wind’s whipping down the boardwalk Hey Band! You guys know what time of year it is? What time, what? What? Christmastime! What? Oh, Christmastime! You guys, all, you guys all been good and practicing real hard? Yeah? Clarence, you been, you been rehearsing real hard now? So Santa’ll bring you a new saxophone? Everyone out there been good or what? Aw, that’s not many, not many you guys are in trouble out here
[Chorus, sung] You’d better watch out, you’d better not cry You’d better not pout, I’m telling you why – Santa Claus is coming to town Santa Claus is coming to town Santa Claus is coming to town
He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice He’s gonna find out whose naughty or nice Santa Claus is coming to town Santa Claus is coming to town Santa Claus is coming to town
[Verse] He sees you when you’re sleeping He knows when you’re awake He knows if you’ve been bad or good You’d better be good for goodness sake! You’d better be good for goodness sake!
[Chorus] Oh you’d better watch out, you’d better not cry You’d better not pout, I’m telling you why – Santa Claus is coming to town Santa Claus is coming to town Santa Claus is coming to town
Ho, ho, ho, ho!
[Saxophone solo]
[Verse] He sees you when you’re sleeping He knows when you’re awake He knows if you’ve been bad or good You’d better be good for goodness sake! You’d better be good for goodness sake!
[Chorus] You’d better watch out, you’d better not cry You’d better not pout, I’m telling you why – Santa Claus is coming to town Santa Claus is coming to town Santa Claus is coming to town
To bookend this post I thought it appropriate to point you to how Jordan Peterson might respond to the question – Do You Believe in Santa? (From Dr Beckerwood on Reddit)
I act as if Santa Claus exists.
People have often asked me (especially around this time of year) if I believe in Santa Claus… and I don’t like that question because it’s an attempt to box me up, to put a bow on me in a sense. It’s like, what do you mean, “believe”? We know what Santa looks like. We know what he sounds like. We know how he behaves. We put up pictures and statues of him. We even make offerings to him! Do I believe the man at the mall with the white beard is the one and only Santa? Crowds are addressing him as Santa and he is responding to the name “Santa” and answering AS Santa as such, so some extent at least, he is real. To the degree he is a “good” Santa he is transcending his material substrate to give rebirth to the neurological patterns of the eternal spirit of Santa as it has descended across time. It’s like, is that “real” enough for you? In the Jungian sense you could argue that in that moment he is more real than real.
Look, any smart 11 year old can point out the logistical problems with time zones, flying reindeer, and countless cubic tons of milk and cookies, but, you know, perhaps that’s the wrong level of analysis. When a child sits on Santa’s lap it’s an intimidating thing because Santa is a judge. It’s like, are you on the good list or the naughty list? Because you certainly don’t want to be on the naughty list, that’s for sure, so how about we avoid that; how about we avoid the coal in the stocking? So what do we tell our kids? It’s like, clean up your room! Straighten yourself out and try to be a good person. Then maybe Santa judges you favorably and you get a few decent toys out the deal, eh? I don’t know, maybe Red Dead Redemption 2 or maybe a Hatchimal. But you’re not getting anywhere by stepping up on your soap box and announcing “I’m so smart, I figured out that the physical manifestation of the spirit of giving isn’t real.” I mean, you can think that if you want, but it’s not the proper way of looking at Santa Claus. There’s way, way more to him than that.
And there are actually not a lot of people, percentage-wise, who are ok with saying out loud that they don’t believe in him. Why is that? It feels like a sin to even suggest something like that. On the contrary, people go door to door singing songs about him. So some folks might say he doesn’t exist maybe just because they’re afraid of appearing foolish, but I’m not convinced. It’s like, you know what you truly believe, eh? You’re transparent to yourself? Guess again, sunshine. We act as if Santa Claus exists. And that’s right. That’s true, and it is good. And that’s all I have to say about that.
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