The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
(One, two, three, four)
People love the working man
Who does the best that he can but
Don't forget all the horses and toys
Never could fix the poor little rich boys
People say they love the maid who
Sweats and toils just like a slave but
Don't forget all the diamonds and pearls
Never could fix the poor little rich girls
You could measure it in blood
You could measure it in mud
Let us say for these twelve days
Put the measurin' away
'Cause it's Christmas
And a spotlight shining on Christmas
And a spotlight shining on us
People love and people hate
People go and people wait but
Don't forget Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Once were a family, poor but rich in hope, yeah
Don't forget Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Runnin' from the law, King Herod hath imposeth
And they were each one quite odd
A mench, a virgin, and a God but
Don't forget that what kept them afloat
Floatin' through the desert doesn't take a boat, no
Don't forget that what kept them above
Is unconditional love and
You could measure it in blood
You could measure it in mud
Let us say for these twelve days
Put the measurin' away
'Cause it's Christmas
And a spotlight shining on Christmas
And a spotlight shining on us
And a spotlight shining on Christmas
And a spotlight shining on
People love the working man
Does the best that he can but
Don't forget all the horses and toys
Never could fix the poor little rich boys
People love the working man
Who does the best that he can but
Don't forget all the horses and toys
Never could fix the poor little rich boys
People say they love the maid who
Sweats and toils just like a slave but
Don't forget all the diamonds and pearls
Never could fix the poor little rich girls
You could measure it in blood
You could measure it in mud
Let us say for these twelve days
Put the measurin' away
'Cause it's Christmas
And a spotlight shining on Christmas
And a spotlight shining on us
People love and people hate
People go and people wait but
Don't forget Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Once were a family, poor but rich in hope, yeah
Don't forget Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Runnin' from the law, King Herod hath imposeth
And they were each one quite odd
A mench, a virgin, and a God but
Don't forget that what kept them afloat
Floatin' through the desert doesn't take a boat, no
Don't forget that what kept them above
Is unconditional love and
You could measure it in blood
You could measure it in mud
Let us say for these twelve days
Put the measurin' away
'Cause it's Christmas
And a spotlight shining on Christmas
And a spotlight shining on us
And a spotlight shining on Christmas
And a spotlight shining on
People love the working man
Does the best that he can but
Don't forget all the horses and toys
Never could fix the poor little rich boys
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bops
this is a lovely song, slightly tinged with issues