The most awful Xmas Song ever

[akashiver]

This song was inflicted on me in the mall today. I managed to endure the first verse by maintaining a running commentary of evil snarkiness. Then Jesus entered the picture and the schmaltz reached levels of epic proportion. Rarely have I been literally driven out of a store by Xmas songs, so I thought I'd share

Newsong
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

Repeat Chorus

*****************************

Personally I want to know how the American social net has failed so badly that dirty, ragged soon-to-be-orphans are running around while their single remaining parent works the late shift in order to pay for mommy's hospice bills. But that's just me.

here.

Comments

[nekomata.livejournal.com]

Well, it's pretty much true. Society only cares about the poor during the holiday season. Sure, it was nice when we could sign up to get grocery gift certificates or be nominated to recieve help from charities at x-mas. But what about the rest of the year when my family had to eat pasta with spam and hamburger helper nights on end. Or the fact that a free winter coat didn't help when I only had three pairs of worn out jeans the rest of the year.
If you ever want to hear about how horribly the social net fails, just ask me. :/

[akashiver.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear you had to go through that. :(

And yeah, the song really grates. I'm not a big fan of disadvantaged children being used as Xmas window dressing unless it's done to, y'know, rectify the situation.

[nekomata.livejournal.com]

Yeah, if you ever want to read about how the sytem failed me, go here.
http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=miraeko&keyword=life+story&filter=all

I HATE when poverty is used this way; it really just makes me sick.

[buzzermccain.livejournal.com]

Geck.

One of the unfortunate side effects of working retail- one gets to bloody well loathe the holiday season.

Especially the music.

[nekomata.livejournal.com]

Hey, at least your store's charity is worthwhile, and probably doesn't discriminate based on religion. ( I hope...)

[saracariad.livejournal.com]

I am sad to admit that I actually teared up when I read this. Then Jesus came, and I laughed a little. But I know a kid who said something just like this. It really was heartbreaking. I think it's kinda funny that this was playing in the mall, where everyone is going to spend spend spend. Can't be good advertising- help out this poor kid whose mom is dying instead of buying our cheap Christmas junk...
Who knows, maybe it *DID* change one person's mind about buying stuff. Maybe it did do a little something for someone. Or, maybe it was annoying and drove people out of the store. ;)
I think it'd do both for me.
I hate the bell ringing at every grocery store this time of year, but I am still compelled to be glad it does, cause at least it means that there's a person ringing the bell, donating their time because they want to help. I'm just a sap at Christmas, though. I know that way too little is done year round. I hate that Christmas is a time for consumerism masked by goodwill. But hey, for me, I care more about the caring about people. Tis better to give, in my book.
-Sara-
(Big Sap, Christmas Spirit)

[akashiver.livejournal.com]

>>I think it's kinda funny that this was playing in the mall, where everyone is going to spend spend spend.<< Wet Seal, even. Hardly the shop I associate with holiday sentiment. It came on right after a "I want to have sex with you right now" hoochy-ho song, too. Talk about music whiplash.

>>Can't be good advertising- help out this poor kid whose mom is dying instead of buying our cheap Christmas junk...<<

Well, the way I interpret the song it's "help the kid AND buy our Xmas junk." And "helping the kid" is defined as helping *him* buy stuff, so it's all a big consumer love-in.

While helping the kid buy his highly-symbolic shoes is great n' all, I'd feel a lot better if the narrator's Christian charity went beyond donating some extra cents and involved - I dunno - talking to the kid? Buying the kid some decent clothes and a meal and taking him back home instead of letting him wander the streets alone? Seeing if there was anything that could be done to make the situation of this kid and his family better?

Then again, if they'd done all that, the song would have been even *longer.* Gah.

I guess I'm doomed to frozen cynicism - or at least until I hear some good Xmas music.
:)

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

Wet Seal, even.

o_O

[gollumgollum.livejournal.com]

Feeeeeed the wooo-ooooorld
Let them know it's Christmas tiii-iiime
Feeeeeed the wooo-ooooorld
Do they know that Christmas time is heeeeere

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

*twitch*

I've heard that one, before... and I believe there was a version of that story in at least one of those Chicken Soup for the ________ Soul books.