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December 24, 2004
Disgusting Christmas Music
If you haven’t heard this tune, read the words once:
“The Christmas Shoes”
It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes
His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say
Chorus:
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight
He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes
So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama's gonna look so great
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight
Bridge:
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about
Now, add stock music, a mediocre vocal and children singing at the end, and you've got the worst Christmas song ever written. This tune doesn't pull at the heartstrings, it yanks them out and holds them hostage. There is no excuse for making up this horrible story for a Christmas song, adding the word Jesus in the chorus and making oneself, as the narrator, the disgustingly self-worthwhile hero.
Why radio stations are still playing it is bizarre and confusing. Apparently, there are twelve pre-teen girls in South Florida who keep calling the stations and asking them to play it. Nobody's calling these stations and asking them not to.
The lyrics don't rhyme and have no rhythm. The song is pure, unadulterated fluff. Anyone caught with a tear in their eye should have it for anger that record companies...CHRISTIAN record labels are force-feeding us this trash and not worthwhile inspirational music.
If you want choke your way through the song, realize this: The little boy is a con artist, and the narrator, is not a hero but the duped fool. The little boy is going to bring Momma the shoes and she's going to sell them at the flea market for money for crack, and the idiot narrator hasn't been paying attention to the Iranian storekeeper who's been trying to tell him that the little boy does this every day.
If you want to complain to the radio stations I've heard it on, first off, we have 97.9 WRMF in Palm Beach County/Fort Lauderdale. Music contact person is Amy Navarro who can be reached at 561-868-1100 or by email at anavarro@wrmf.com.
I also heard the song on the Delilah show on Coast 97.3. Production Manager for Coast is David Israel, and their phone number is 954-584-7117. His email is david.isreal@cox.com.
The Delilah Show can be emailed at d@radiodelilah.com.
Please. Get this song off the airwaves!
Posted by Bastique at December 24, 2004 6:24 PM