This is going to be a shorter episode just because not a lot happened on Christmas Day in the entertainment world. I brought it up yesterday when I was reading reader email. Someone asked me, what was the best Christmas song? And they did mention the, do they know it’s Christmas by bandaid, which was a bunch of singers at that point, famous at the time, getting together and writing a song to raise money for Africa.
And. I’ve never understood this song at all. They were raising money to help relief efforts for the famine in Ethiopia in the mid eighties. And it’s, it’s a catchy tune. The lyrics are good until they aren’t. So boy, George was in it. George Michael Simon Lebon from Duran Duran sting Bono. So there were some big names back then that sang on this song afterwards.
You know, that’s how we are. The world came about because they basically, I don’t say they copied it, but same idea where we’re going to get a bunch of famous A list singers together. We’re going to record a song and it proceeds are going to go to feed. So, have you ever read the lyrics to Do They Know It’s Christmas?
I don’t wanna, I’m not gonna sing the song for you, but It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid At Christmas time we let in light, we banish shade And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time And that’s where the beat picks up George Michael comes in, but say a prayer, pray for the other ones at Christmas time.
It’s hard, but when you’re having fun, there’s a world outside your window and it’s a world of dread and fear where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears. Then Bono and sting come in and they say, And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom. And then Bono’s infamous line that he screams at the top of his lungs.
Well, tonight, thank God, it’s them instead of you. Why are you rubbing it in? That we have it better than the children of Ethiopia. I, am I reading that line wrong? I mean, I know that’s the line in the song. I’m just saying, I shouldn’t say, am I reading it wrong? Am I interpreting it wrong? Well, tonight, thank God it’s them instead of you.
How do I read that other than, Hey, we have it great over here. Thank God they’re the ones dealing with famine and not us. And then boy, George in the next verse. And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas time. The greatest gift they’ll get this year is life where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow.
Do they know it’s Christmas time at all? What the hell did these people do to deserve this type of abuse? The song was going fine, until those last six lines I read do. Here’s to you, raise a glass for everyone, here’s to them, underneath that burning sun, do they know it’s Christmas time at all? And then the rest of the song is just, feed the world, let them know it’s Christmas time, feed the world, let them know, that’s the rest of the song, that’s it.
So there aren’t many lyrics to this song, go google it. But when you get to Bono’s part solo, well tonight, thank God, it’s them instead of you. And then they’re just shitting on Africa for not having any snow and they’re not going to get any gifts. Nothing ever grows there. What? I’m so confused on this song.
Now, granted, when this song came out in the eighties, it was just a huge thing and it raised a shit ton of money, which is good, but I just don’t get the lyrics. And if someone can explain these lyrics to me, please, because it sounds like we’re literally patronizing them for not having it as good as us.
Your guess is as good as mine. Sorry. Anyway, thank you all for listening. I really appreciate it. Follow me on Apple podcast. Also rate and review, but you got to hit play. It’s the only way it counts as a download coming up in an hour from now, the sports daily and then at 9 15 a. m. Eastern time. On my YouTube channel Reality, Steve 24 Podcast number 4 23 with Steven Fishback.
It’ll also be in your podcast feed right around that time as well. Thanks again for listening, everybody. I really appreciate it, and I will talk to you tomorrow.
