Get Behind Me, Santa! Lyrics
You move so fast like a psychopathic color TV
With your Christmas bag and your jolly face
And the reindeer stomping all over the place
You make it sound like Christmas is a four-letter word
Its a fact of life whether you like or not
So put your hands together and give it a shot
It's Christmas time, ain't no clowning around
And if you think you got something to prove, boy
Santa Claus is coming to town
Candy canes or the carolers decking the halls
I don't care about what you say, Santa Claus
You're a bad brother breaking into people's garage
Jeez!
Because I'm just another regular guy
Super powers and a penchant for the Yuletime
Is it a crime to give a little once in a while?
I travel around the world trying to make people smile
It's Christmas time, ain't no clowning around
And if you think you got something to prove, boy
Santa Claus is coming to town
Christmastime
Magic of Christmas
Christmas, Christmastime
Christmastime
Have a good time!
Possibly, but more likely a play on Matthew 16:23; Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
I agree with zachharrisment about it being very closely related to the essay in the booklet that comes with the album.
but I think JaimeChiens only has half the idea. The song does admonish Santa CLaus (and the consumerism of christmas in general) but it's more like a conversation. On the one hand you have a guy who is attacking Santa and on the other hand you have Santa defending himself and saying that while Christmas is commercialized it's aslo a time when humans come together like brothers and promoting joy.
"You got it wrong Because I'm just another regular guy Super powers and a penchant for the Yuletime Is it a crime to give a little once in a while? I travel around the world trying to make people smile"
The whole thing is about Sufjan Stevens trying to "figure out" Christmas. He presents both sides of the argument and ultimately decides that Christmas is a time for remembering the birth of Jesus, but that also means a lot for humanity. He doesn't have to be angry about the commercialism of christmas because it's still christmas either way and he shouldn't be preoccupied with trying to attack Santa, he should simply rejoice in the fact that it's christmas at all, which is what he does in the end.
Sounds like a dialog between Sufjan and Santa haha, and I first thought of that verse as well when I heard the title.
I love Sufjan. a lot.
One of the best Christmas songs ever? I'd say!
So incredible. It all goes hand in hand with the essay he wrote in the Chrismas album. If you haven't read it yet, its worth purchasing the album for Sufjan's written work alone.
cannot stop singing this song....
Play on White Stripes Get Behind Me Satan?
i second it being the best christmas song ever.
on the first listen I got that it was about enveloping the Christmas spirit but not having it be broken down to just material things, and that maybe Santa isn't the best symbol for the holiday since he's just about the presents...
my favorite part.. I don't care about family and shopping malls Candy canes or the carolers decking the halls I don't care about what you say, Santa Claus You're a bad brother breaking into people's garage Jeez!
thanks, didn't realise it was a bible verse