Thought provoking video. Absolutely agree that you cannot generalise about ‘Africa’ as if it were eg Essex. Also agree (having been born near the foothills of Kilimanjaro…) that there IS snow in Africa and things DO grow (and Mr Crosby can sing quite well…) But that misses the point… Step back: show most people a map of the world and ask them where Ethiopia is. I would place a small bet that some people would not know it was in Africa and, apart from geography teachers, the rest would struggle to point their finger to where it was. The key point here is that the song is not about geography. It is about a point in time (1980 - 1984) when there was a drought in Ethiopia (no rains no rivers flow) and there was no food. Literally, no food. Whilst the rest of the world were celebrating Christmas and arguing about whether the Turkey was overcooked or who has the last chocolate off the tree, were dying of starvation. Not just a few children, a million children. They did not know it was Christmas - and the rest of the world did not seem to care they were dying. This is what the song Is about. The lyrics may now be seen as condescending and whiteist but, after Michael Buerk’s documentary, it was clear that this was an epic human tragedy - and the developed world didn’t know or, even worse, didn’t care. Now, recognising that some people don’t know the difference, replace the word Africa with Ethiopia, step back in time, and consider the following prose: ________________________________________________ [The Developed World] is celebrating Christmas, smiling and happy But in Ethiopia, they are dying. There is no water or food. Only fear. Bells are ringing. These are church bells burying the dead. The only water running is tears. Aren’t you glad you are here and not there? For Christmas, the greatest gift they can have is not to die. There is a drought. Where nothing ever grows. No rain. No river flows. Whilst you celebrate and eat/drink to excess, do you think they know it is Christmas at all? Why don’t you give them a thought? If you were in their situation, would you survive? Don’t just sit there feeling guilty! Do something! Don’t turn your head away! Help them! Feed them! _________________________________________________ Now, think about the fact that, whilst the developed world looked on and did nothing, around 1 million people died as a result of the drought in Ethiopia. Watch the Michael Buerk video and now read the words of the song and ask yourself: Should I be criticising the song because it is musically lazy? Or geographically inaccurate? Or should I be thinking about what it is really saying about the way people can be consumed by first-world problems when, in the third-world, babies are dying through lack of food and water. Then ask whether there is anything you can do to help… ___________________________________ It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid At Christmas time, 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 Christmas time 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 And the Christmas bells that ring There are the clanging chimes of doom Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you 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 nor rivers flow Do they know it's Christmas time at all? Here's to you Raise a glass for everyone Spare a thought this yuletide for the deprived If the table was turned would you survive Here's to them Underneath that burning sun You ain't gotta feel guilt just selfless Give a little help to the helpless Do they know it's Christmas time at all? [Feed the world] Let them know it's Christmas time again
Thought provoking video. Absolutely agree that you cannot generalise about ‘Africa’ as if it were eg Essex. Also agree (having been born near the foothills of Kilimanjaro…) that there IS snow in Africa and things DO grow (and Mr Crosby can sing quite well…) But that misses the point…
Step back: show most people a map of the world and ask them where Ethiopia is. I would place a small bet that some people would not know it was in Africa and, apart from geography teachers, the rest would struggle to point their finger to where it was. The key point here is that the song is not about geography. It is about a point in time (1980 - 1984) when there was a drought in Ethiopia (no rains no rivers flow) and there was no food. Literally, no food.
Whilst the rest of the world were celebrating Christmas and arguing about whether the Turkey was overcooked or who has the last chocolate off the tree, were dying of starvation. Not just a few children, a million children. They did not know it was Christmas - and the rest of the world did not seem to care they were dying. This is what the song Is about.
The lyrics may now be seen as condescending and whiteist but, after Michael Buerk’s documentary, it was clear that this was an epic human tragedy - and the developed world didn’t know or, even worse, didn’t care.
Now, recognising that some people don’t know the difference, replace the word Africa with Ethiopia, step back in time, and consider the following prose:
________________________________________________
[The Developed World] is celebrating Christmas, smiling and happy
But in Ethiopia, they are dying. There is no water or food. Only fear.
Bells are ringing. These are church bells burying the dead.
The only water running is tears.
Aren’t you glad you are here and not there?
For Christmas, the greatest gift they can have is not to die.
There is a drought. Where nothing ever grows. No rain. No river flows.
Whilst you celebrate and eat/drink to excess, do you think they know it is Christmas at all?
Why don’t you give them a thought? If you were in their situation, would you survive?
Don’t just sit there feeling guilty! Do something!
Don’t turn your head away! Help them!
Feed them!
_________________________________________________
Now, think about the fact that, whilst the developed world looked on and did nothing, around 1 million people died as a result of the drought in Ethiopia. Watch the Michael Buerk video and now read the words of the song and ask yourself:
Should I be criticising the song because it is musically lazy?
Or geographically inaccurate?
Or should I be thinking about what it is really saying about the way people can be consumed by first-world problems when, in the third-world, babies are dying through lack of food and water.
Then ask whether there is anything you can do to help…
___________________________________
It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, 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 Christmas time
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
And the Christmas bells that ring
There are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you
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 nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
Here's to you
Raise a glass for everyone
Spare a thought this yuletide for the deprived
If the table was turned would you survive
Here's to them
Underneath that burning sun
You ain't gotta feel guilt just selfless
Give a little help to the helpless
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
[Feed the world]
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Great points to further the discussion. Thanks very much for taking the time to write this.
Merry Christmas sir
Happy new year sir