The Christians and the Pagans Lyrics
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 number three
He told his niece, "It's Christmas eve, I know our life is not your style."
She said, "Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and it's been awhile."
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
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a witch?"
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."
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
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,"
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
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.
The Pagans burned the Christians. And then the Christians burned the Pagans. And now everyone eats dinner together. :P
This song is amazing.
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.
I assumed they were Mother and Daughter. Hip and trendy kids call their parents by their first names....
I assumed they were Mother and Daughter. Hip and trendy kids call their parents by their first names....
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.
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.
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.
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.
I haven't actually ever heard this song, but damn, awesome lyrics!
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.
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.