I have kids. But my issue really isnt about singing the Santa myth, it's more the technical problems of poorly written lyrics. He's gotta say "Santa Clause" something like 15 times in the song, and the lyrics are not that long to begin with. That's too much repeat for my taste, and the chorus is wholly unimaginative. There is not much of a story or depth either. Not that it's a requirement I guess, but it's hard to take it with any seriousness considering it's coming from one of the best rock bands of an era, who sing about race, politics, greed, anger, sadness and....Santa Clause?
Ed should leave the sore thumb songs to Michael Stipe

Music: B+
Lyrics: D

On a related note, no, I do not plan on propagating the Santa myth to my children.

Has anyone transcribed this?

I find the repetition of one word a lot less offensive than the repetition of a rhyme (tone-scone tomes drone). I've been running around like a freak and haven't had a chance to throw this on iPod so I've not yet decoded Eddie.

I hadn't planned on propagating Santa either, but it happened anyway. It ended up being fun but there was the let down about santa not being real!

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http://www.theskyiscrape.com/website/wi ... /Santa_God

Now and then I remember when,
Us Adults were little Kids,
And our only worry was,
What we get from Santa Claus,

When Santa Claus was God,
When Santa Claus was God,
When Santa was... Santa Claus was...
When Santa Claus was God

Now we're grown and so complex,
In a world that can't relax,
Even though he was a lie,
We all were satisfied,

When Santa Claus was God,
When Santa Claus was God,
When Santa was... When Santa Claus was...
When Santa Claus was God

How I learned from right and wrong,
Had to be good for Santa Claus,
He made me, stop misbehaving,

And once a year if I did my job,
I'd be given my favorite toys,
So simple, the principles,

When Santa was... When Santa Claus was...
Santa Claus was God

Sleep tight all/oh little ones

I would agree with your statements about taking it seriously or the song having any depth if this was released on an album or soundtrack even.....but this is a christmas song released on a Christmas single....ed felt like making a little christmas song , it doesnt need to be taken seriously

So, we shouldn't take seriously any songs they release for the holiday singles? There is a difference between something like Olympic Platinum, which is just totally being silly, and Last Soldier which is a meaningful serious song. Ed wrote Santa God in a serious, if not romanticized view. It's not funny or silly, so one would think you're supposed to take it on the straight. That being the case, it's just poor, lyrically.
Hey, I still love Ed. Every song can't be the best song ever written. It's OK

the repetition is in the chorus, so it bothers me less. I kinda like the lyrics now that i see them. It's a cute little song about lost innocence. If it was breaking under its own weight the way a song like I'm Open does I'd have more of a problem with the chours (I hate the I'm open chorus)

there have been some great songs as christmas singles before, and there have been ones that aren't really as serious but are still cool. this reminds me a lot of 'let me sleep'.

sure, its no 'strangest tribe', but i like it anyway.

Thank you! I've been shopping all day and think I'm going to fall over!

The words are nostalgic, but not sad, depressing or indecipherable. I don't agree these are terrible lyrics. They aren't weighty. They are almost whimsical. They're just a bit too rooted in adult reality for whimsy. I really like the music.

Let Me Sleep was sorrowful and full of suffering. I think it's heartrending. This is song nostalgic for something less than love, home and hearth. It's nostalgic for simplicity. I like it a lot

Strangest Tribe. Wow. I love the music & the words are great. I haven't a fucking clue what he means, but cryptic works very well on Strangest Tribe. Great song

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Yeah, "Strangest Tribe" was a fantastic Holiday single. Also "Let Me Sleep". "Driftin" I never really cared for.

But they're both very different from "Santa God". I enjoy them for different reasons. This is jingle-jangley. There are bells and chimes in it. Ed's playing an UKETAR for God's sake. The lyrics are cute. It's good fun.

I really like how he uses his voice in this one, too. A more punk-rock-sounding Ed in the bridge.

Oh, man. I just went out for lunch and even doing that was a nightmare.



I'll stick by my D rating for the lyrics. Love the music though. Maybe if the chorus wasn't so repetitive I'd feel better about it.

I hurt all over. My bank account moans in agony. I can hear my credit cards whining. Oh, how I hurt



I forgive you.

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the lyrics aren't great or whimsical. seems to me to be a somber comparison of santa and god. when he was little santa was god, and now that he's older god is god - they both reward us with "toys" for being good, but, from ed's perspective, they're both made up. sleep tight.

I don't get the being older and god being god part from the song, but what do I know?

Sleep tight & nightie night night.

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Just got it in the mail. Perfect timing Ten Club!

I took the liberty to scan since I haven't seen anyone else do it yet:

That's BEAUTIFUL!

Thank you for scanning

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trite, alright.

"Debunking the Santa Claus myth" is not exactly an original idea.
2nd verse might be the worst thing Ed's ever written...

Although, to be fair, when I heard the title I was expecting something a lot more cynical.

Here are the lyrics to a Santa God song by Dan Hart:

Santa God
When I was a kid they told me something weird
That there's a guy up in the sky with a long white beard
And he does everything, and he knows each move you make
And he knows if you've been bad so be good for goodness sake

Back when I was four I thought I was pretty bright
I said "You're talking about old Santa Claus, right?"
But they got real quiet, and steam came from their ears
And they said "You'll burn in hell for that for a million billion years!"

"We're talking about God, you heathen little kid
So you'd better beg forgiveness for all the sins you did
He's easily annoyed and he doesn't take no crap
And at the slightest provocation He will smite you flat"

God and Santa Claus are coming to town
One gives you presents and the other strikes you down
I'll leave cookies for Santa, but not for god
Cause he seems to think I'm a human lightening rod

I said "He sounds so mean-- why is he so mad?
My Santa's lots of laughs, though I know he's really Dad
Are you sure this isn't Santa Claus, and he's having a bad day?"
But they said "We'd better get this kid to church right away"

In the church they sat me down on a rock-hard wooden pew
And they told me not to move or speak unless I was spoken to
And a man in funny clothes talked for almost half a day
Then they sang songs of joy while frowning in dismay
(chorus)

Please don't blame me for being confused
But the things grownups tell me just don't compute
Like "Always trust the President and CEO's
With their sideways grins and their Ho Ho Ho's"

So no one ever could tell me who this "God" guy was
And why he's never photographed beside Santa Claus
But with Santa a lump of coal is the only wage of sin
This other grouchy guy must be Santa's evil twin

Oh god and santa claus are coming to town
One gives you presents and the other strikes you down
I'll leave cookies for santa but not for god
cause he seems to thing that I'm a human lightning rod
He's gonna zap a million volts right through my bod
His way of showing love is a little odd...

© 2002 Dan Hart

Wow, been a long time since I've received the CHRISTMAS single before the 25th of December.

What country is that half-flag on your wall ? Italy ?

Canada