I just discovered this one on the compilation "A Very Special Christmas 3" (which also has a very fine version of "I Saw Three Ships" by Sting, by the way) - but the "Christmas Song" by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds just blew my socks off.
I'm used to the understated power of their guitar works - very simple progressions that are actually very difficult to phrase - but the lyrics really knocked me out. This is what a Christmas Song should be: the story of Christ's birth, and life, and death, told in a way that anybody speaking English today can understand it.
There is true power in the simple poetry of this modern-day retelling of the Nativity, Message, and Crucifixion. Just listen to it and you'll know.
Wow. That just about sums it up. Wow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-717PJf8YAU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbdylEE-0e4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x33XlnWWfaI&feature=related
(By the way, I couldn't find a YouTube with the same power as the cut on the CD, so I just put a few links here - look around, you'll find one that fits just right!)
She was his girl; he was her boyfriend
She'd be his wife and make him her husband
A surprise on the way, any day, any day
One healthy little giggling dribbling baby boy
The wise men came, three made their way
To shower him with love
While he lay in the hay
Shower him with love love love
Love love love
Love love was all around
Not very much of his childhood was known
Kept his mother Mary worried
Always out on his own
He met another Mary who for a reasonable fee,
less than reputable was known to be.
His heart full of love love love
Love love love
Love love was all around
When Jesus Christ was nailed to his tree
Said "oh, Daddy-o, I can see how it all soon will be
I came to shed a little light on this darkening scene
Instead I fear I've spilled the blood of our children all around"
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children's all around
So I'm told, so the story goes
The people he knew were
Less than golden hearted
Gamblers and Robbers
Drinkers and Jokers, all soul searchers
Like you and me
Like you and me
Rumors insisted he soon would be
For his deviations
Taken into custody
By the authorities less informed than he.
Drinkers and Jokers all soul searchers
Searching for love love love
Love love love
Love love was all around
Preparations were made
For his celebration day
He said "eat this bread and think of it as me
Drink this wine and dream it will be
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children's all around
The blood of our children all around
Father up above, why in all this anger do you fill
Me up with love, love, love
Love love love
Love love was all around
Father up above, why in all this hatred do you fill
Me up with love, fill me love love love
Love love love
all you need is love
you can't buy me love
Love love love
Love love
And the blood of our children's all around
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