The Christians and the Pagans--Dar Williams

[tanyev]

Any Dar Williams fans out there? She wrote one of my favorite holiday themed songs. A blessed Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Solstice or Saturnalia to you all. Peace.

The Christians and the Pagans

Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday,
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay."
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree,
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with red dye number three.
He told his niece, "It's Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style,"
She said, "Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and its been awhile,"

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said,
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses.

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch,
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a witch?"
His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning," and she hit the kitchen,
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "Its true, your cousin's not a Christian,"
"But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share,
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere,"

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning,
Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.

When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother."
Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father.
He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year,
He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas and your daughter's here."
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve, saying,
"Can I be a Pagan?" Dad said, "We'll discuss it when they leave."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold.

[ET Awful]

1. One of my favorite Christmas songs :)

"Can I be pagan?" Dad said "We'll discuss it when they leave."

I love this song :)

Then again, I love most of Dar's stuff that I've heard :)

[mcscajun]

2. Thank you for posting this!

I hadn't heard it in a while, but it's the perfect tonic for another board I frequent where a fundie or two are baiting and debating the pagans, atheists, etc. over Christ in Christmas, 'God' in "Do They Know It's Chrismas", etc.

on edit: correcting song title.

[sniffa]

3. i'm a big fan

she's a LocaL - one day i was waLking through harvard square and there was some commotion... being the nosey fuck that i am i wondered over. dar wiLLiams pLayed a free concert in front of HMV. she was awesome. i've been a fan ever since. :D

[frictionlessO]

4. YAY! my favorite holiday song! I make my Mom listen to it every year.

Thanks for posting it!

[gypsy11]

5. She's great

I love that song!

[tanyev]

6. Kick.

Kicking my own thread to send holiday greetings to the afternoon crew!

:kick:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. I'd never heard of her before I saw her

opening for Bruce Cockburn and Joan Baez at an outdoor concert in Portland, but I came away impressed.