"Elf's Lament [featuring Michael Bublé]" as written by and Ed Robertson....
I'm a man of reason, and they say
'Tis the season to be jolly
But it's folly when you volley for position
Never in existence has there been such a resistance
To ideas meant to free us
If you could see us, then you'd listen
Toiling through the ages, making toys on garnished wages
There's no union
We're only through when we outdo the competition
I make toys, but I've got aspirations
Make some noise, use your imagination
Girls and boys, before you wish for what you wish for
There's a list for who's been
Naughty or nice, but consider the price to an elf
A full indentured servitude can reflect on one's attitude
But that silly red hat just makes the fat man look outrageous
Absurd though it may seem, you know
I've heard there's even been illegal doping
And though we're coping, I just hope it's not contagious
You try to start a movement, and you think you see improvement
But when thrown into the moment, we just don't seem so courageous
I make toys, but I've got aspirations
Make some noise, use your imagination
Girls and boys, before you wish for what you wish for
There's a list for who's been
Naughty or nice, but consider the price to an elf
You look at yourself, you're an elf
And the shelf is just filled with disappointing memories
Trends come and go, and your friends wanna know
Why you aren't just happy making crappy little gizmos
Every kid knows they'll just throw this stuff away
We're used to repetition, so we drew up a petition
We, the undersigned, feel undermined
Let's redefine "employment"
We know that we've got leverage, so we'll hand the fat man a beverage
And sit back while we attack the utter lack of our enjoyment
It may be tough to swallow, but our threats are far from hollow
He may thunder, but if he blunders, he may wonder where the toys went
I make toys, but I've got aspirations
Make some noise, use your imagination
Girls and boys, before you wish for what you wish for
There's a list for who's been
Naughty or nice, but consider the price
Naughty or nice, but consider the price
Naughty or nice, but consider the price to an elf
'Tis the season to be jolly
But it's folly when you volley for position
Never in existence has there been such a resistance
To ideas meant to free us
If you could see us, then you'd listen
Toiling through the ages, making toys on garnished wages
There's no union
We're only through when we outdo the competition
I make toys, but I've got aspirations
Make some noise, use your imagination
Girls and boys, before you wish for what you wish for
There's a list for who's been
Naughty or nice, but consider the price to an elf
A full indentured servitude can reflect on one's attitude
But that silly red hat just makes the fat man look outrageous
Absurd though it may seem, you know
I've heard there's even been illegal doping
And though we're coping, I just hope it's not contagious
You try to start a movement, and you think you see improvement
But when thrown into the moment, we just don't seem so courageous
I make toys, but I've got aspirations
Make some noise, use your imagination
Girls and boys, before you wish for what you wish for
There's a list for who's been
Naughty or nice, but consider the price to an elf
You look at yourself, you're an elf
And the shelf is just filled with disappointing memories
Trends come and go, and your friends wanna know
Why you aren't just happy making crappy little gizmos
Every kid knows they'll just throw this stuff away
We're used to repetition, so we drew up a petition
We, the undersigned, feel undermined
Let's redefine "employment"
We know that we've got leverage, so we'll hand the fat man a beverage
And sit back while we attack the utter lack of our enjoyment
It may be tough to swallow, but our threats are far from hollow
He may thunder, but if he blunders, he may wonder where the toys went
I make toys, but I've got aspirations
Make some noise, use your imagination
Girls and boys, before you wish for what you wish for
There's a list for who's been
Naughty or nice, but consider the price
Naughty or nice, but consider the price
Naughty or nice, but consider the price to an elf
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But this song makes me think about the real people who are *really* making most of the stuff we give at Christmas: most of it is probably made in sweatshops, by people who are treated badly and can't organize a union and can't improve their situation.
And "consider the price to an elf" is something to think about when you're shopping. :( (ie, for those of you who have issues with subtlety, boycott sweatshop-made products!)
So...I guess we're all big giant a-holes in the end. Go figure.
There's nothing wrong with overthinking the album. It may be just one big holiday message that tells us to be in the TRUE Christmas spirit. Well...aside from the chanakuh songs which...Well...I'm not JEwish so I won't go into that in fear I know nothing about it.
Most of the new and original songs to the album are all about the same thing really. Snowman could be that we should get involved in XMAS, Elf's Lament is that we should appreciate the gifts that we buy or get, XMAS Pics may be that we should focus on our family.
Then there's Deck the Stills...which...that's just fun.
If you think about it, Santa is a pretty bad fellow. Sure, he says his elves are happy, but how can we be sure?
This song basically makes people see the "other side" of things, like how PETA laughably claimed that Pokemon was supporting animal cruelty.
I can relate to this song personally, high school drop out, working full-time + overtime on garnished wages... I do have a union, but I can imagine that there are far and far worse cases than me. I should not complain.
I believe this person is singing to a girl, feeling too low or less to be with her because he earns not enough to support her...
I believe the Red Hat points out to the socialist aspect which is ofcourse abandoned on the North Pole.
"It may be tough to swallow, but our threats are far from hollow
He may thunder, but if he blunders, he may wonder where the toys went"
ELVES ON STRIKE!
Amusement on the workplace may also be a motive for this song... Lack of our enjoyment...
Definitely more to it than the happy HO HO HO Merry Christmas boys and girls message.