'Do They Know It's Christmas Time?...'

...The most depressing, ethnocentric, bullshit song ever written in the name of charity...

Ok, this song has been around for awhile now, but this year they covered it on the Glee Christmas album, and like with many songs before it, that means I finally understood all the lyrics.  And damn they're messed up.

It's Christmastime; there's no need to be afraid

 -- That's just blatantly untrue...

At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade 
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy 
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime 

-- "OMG we're so goddamn lucky!  No one in the world could possibly be as happy as us!"

But say a prayer to pray for the other ones 
At Christmastime 

-- I'm sure the world's poor would appreciate being called 'the other ones'.  Also, 'say a prayer to pray' is just redundant. 

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 

-- Well this song has certainly taken a turn... but sure, we should take time to consider the less fortunate.

And the Christmas bells that ring there 
Are the clanging chimes of doom 

-- Christ, 'clanging chimes of doom?  Who wrote this song?  And would the bells that are ringing doom really be considered Christmas bells?

Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you 

-- 'Better them than me.'  Yeah, that's the sentiment we should be going for here...

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime 

-- Ok, that's probably true.


The greatest gift they'll get this year is life 
Oh, where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow 

-- Where do they think Africa is?  The Seventh Circle of Hell? 

I suppose for the purposes of this song
South Africa doesn't count.

Do they know it's Christmastime at all? 

-- I think the more important question here is, do they care?

Here's to you, raise a glass for ev'ryone 
Here's to them, underneath that burning sun


-- "Cheers to those poor, desperate bastards!  Pass the eggnog!"

Do they know it's Christmastime at all? 

-- Who is 'they' anyway?  Just all the people that live in Africa in general?  I'm sure some of them know it's Christmastime. 

Feed the world 
Feed the world 

-- Oh, is that the message of this song?

Feed the world

-- "Here's some rice!" 

Let them know it's Christmastime again

 -- "Oh, and by the way, over here we'll be blowing wads of cash on crap we don't need and stuffing ourselves until we pass out!  Merry Christmas!"

Feed the world 
Let them know it's Christmastime again..."