Jethro Tull - Christmas song

Once in Royal David's City stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby.
You'd do well to remember the things He later said.
When you're stuffing yourselves at the Christmas parties,
you'll laugh when I tell you to take a running jump.
You're missing the point I'm sure does not need making;
that Christmas spirit is not what you drink.

So how can you laugh when your own mother's hungry
and how can you smile when the reasons for smiling are wrong?
And if I messed up your thoughtless pleasures,
remember, if you wish, this is just a Christmas song.

Hey, Santa... pass us that bottle, will you?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jethro
• tull
• christmas
• song

[BLUESMANRONCHICAGO]

@whatalulu1 well said!!!!!!! I'm 58 and still listen to Ian and Tull just about every day!!!!

[wsjjc777]

It is truely a celabration time!!  I propose a toast too: Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull and of course "Christ". Thanks for this contribution :)

[fypong]

@BLUESMANRONCHICAGO

Snap. another old timer here. I often listen to their music. 60's and 70's were two great decades for music.

[SuperFirewire1]

I always thought ian wrote this song, then one day in church back like in 1975- i picked up the song and pray book and was this is a church song from many many years ago. word for word. Ian just added the part about "christmas party take a running jump. lol But i guess he just forgets to tell us fans he stoled "i mean borrowed" 50% of the words to this song. But wjat the hell they all do it right?

[BLUESMANRONCHICAGO]

heard an interview the other day on classic rock station, Ian was talking about this song, and he just wanted to point out that so many people have lost the spirituality of the Xmas holiday, and that the birth of the baby Jesus is what the true meaning of Xmas is all about

[3riveratz]

@BLUESMANRONCHICAGO me tooooooo!

[666uberstud666]

what? no Genesis or King Crimson carols?

van der Graaf Generator carol?

I'm sure Mr. Anderson would make a fine Jesus at a nativity pageant. ("Well they call me preach-a-aa...") ("Bible in the Jungle"?)

[seeker6797]

Merry Christams from California.

[meowandmeow]

whats the origin of that father aqualung picture?>

[WrathchildNH]

the cynicism of a young man in 1971..... Imagine if Ian were 20 today..... he probably would skip writing lyrics and just blow up a shopping mall.....always loved this man and his music..... seen him over 25 times live since I was 14 in 1977

[willmetall100]

LOL papai Aqualung...

[GTX1123]

Like so many of Ian's songs this tune is sooooooooo intense. It's reminds me of something right out of C.S. Lewis' Narnia.