Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday,
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay."
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree,
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with Red Dye No. 3.
He told his niece, "Its Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style,"
She said, "Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and its been awhile."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said,
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses.

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch,
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a wtich?"
His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning," and she hit the kitchen,
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "It's true, your cousin's not a Christian,"
"But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share,
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere,"

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning,
'Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.

When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother."
Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father.
He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year,
He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas, and your daughter's here."
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve, saying,
"Can I be a Pagan?" Dad said, "We'll discuss it when they leave."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold.


Lyrics submitted by aur0ra

The Christians and the Pagans Lyrics as written by Dar Williams

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Christians and the Pagans song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

12 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    Liberal gay pagans and family-oriented conservative Chrisitans celebrating the holidays together.. sounds like my family. I love this! It's interesting because very few people even know about paganism let along write songs about it.

    VampedVixenon November 07, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    The Pagans burned the Christians. And then the Christians burned the Pagans. And now everyone eats dinner together. :P

    This song is amazing.

    powertrashon December 21, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    They aren't necessarily lovers... It's not unusual for younger women to take trips together (i.e. "Road Buddy"), and some of the "Pagan" religions have a very strong emphasis on spiritual sisterhood. (Explanation weak because I'm atheist, and going off what my Wiccan friends have said over the years.)

    In concert 1/28/2007, DW said the song was written in the Clinton years, because so many kinds of people that formerly hated each other had become friends. She then said that the last several years, it has felt more like some fantasy she made up or a dream she had.

    moggymaniaon February 03, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Great song! It has so many subtle messages in it. I had an awesome college prof who would play it in her sociology of religion classes.

    Best line: And where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning, 'Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.

    imthe_eviltwinon June 18, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This one gets a lot of airtime in my family's house around the winter solstice, when we're dealing with a family with three or four religious persuasions, plus the usual work of family getting together when it's sometimes stressful.

    aredridelon June 03, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song was the song my mom played when i was growing up, so i always connected to it through nostalgia, but now, having discerned the meaning of the lyrics, i love it more than ever. i love the allegory here; it's sharp and intelligent. and i love the humor in the lyrics -- humor is often the sharpest, most effective criticism. its a clever look at intolerance, relevant 400 years ago and perhaps even more so now.

    flawedifnotfreeeon September 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    One of my very favorite Dar songs.

    400 years ago, Christians burned witches. Now, with religious tolerance, we get to know people of different faiths. When that happens, the differences seem less extreme.

    sakeboxon March 04, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I haven't actually ever heard this song, but damn, awesome lyrics!

    moldbyhandon June 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Jane and Amber are lovers, i apparently just found this out. At first i thought sister's but then i listened more closely, when the uncle metions amber only as his niece. crazy.

    viva con amoreon April 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    such a funny, upbeat song. its such an odd topic to pick, but its hilarious. when i listen to it i seem to compare jon stewart to the steven colbert character. it really goes along with the idea of not being able to choose your family. its true, my family is full of complete opposites, catholic and jewish. its just so funny to me.

    sollischon April 17, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.