I don't think the Christmas has happend yet in this song. The verse
"Father knows,
My sister knows,
And my friends,
They're happy for me"
is in present tense, I think she's still expecting him to come back at Christmas. The line "last words I ever heard him say" still makes sence from this perspective; they were she last words she ever heard from him... so far.
@Scabadus I agree that the key is that "Father knows, My sister knows, etc. . " is in the present tense.
@Scabadus I agree that the key is that "Father knows, My sister knows, etc. . " is in the present tense.
And to comment on a couple of the "what a sad song" interpretations of some commentators, I'd say: there is no single way to take it. Room is left for the reader to wonder. The interpretation that what the singer says actually occurred, that Christmas has not arrived yet, and that everyone believes what she believes, is the likely intention, it's the most poetic, and it's the interpretation that I like best. It is still not necessarily sad, though,...
And to comment on a couple of the "what a sad song" interpretations of some commentators, I'd say: there is no single way to take it. Room is left for the reader to wonder. The interpretation that what the singer says actually occurred, that Christmas has not arrived yet, and that everyone believes what she believes, is the likely intention, it's the most poetic, and it's the interpretation that I like best. It is still not necessarily sad, though, but wonderful, if the singer believes it will come true this Christmas-- as if Christmas had never arrived yet-- despite the fact that many Christmases have come and gone. Now, her belief the visitor will return this Christmas and that her father, sister, and friends are happy for her becomes more poignant, and least to further meanings.
I don't think the Christmas has happend yet in this song. The verse
"Father knows, My sister knows, And my friends, They're happy for me"
is in present tense, I think she's still expecting him to come back at Christmas. The line "last words I ever heard him say" still makes sence from this perspective; they were she last words she ever heard from him... so far.
I think although part of it IS sang as IF it's in the present tense, that is the girl stating how she felt at that time when it WAS the present.
I think although part of it IS sang as IF it's in the present tense, that is the girl stating how she felt at that time when it WAS the present.
Why do I think it's in the past, and that he never came back? Because of the lyrics here -
Why do I think it's in the past, and that he never came back? Because of the lyrics here -
And the last words I heard him say Were the last words I ever Heard him say
And the last words I heard him say Were the last words I ever Heard him say
In short, she is then saying it from a past perspective - that she never heard from him again.
In short, she is then saying it from a past perspective - that she never heard from him again.
I might be wrong, but in any case - it's damn clever song-writing to...
I might be wrong, but in any case - it's damn clever song-writing to make us debate it, eh! :-)
@Scabadus I agree that the key is that "Father knows, My sister knows, etc. . " is in the present tense.
@Scabadus I agree that the key is that "Father knows, My sister knows, etc. . " is in the present tense.
And to comment on a couple of the "what a sad song" interpretations of some commentators, I'd say: there is no single way to take it. Room is left for the reader to wonder. The interpretation that what the singer says actually occurred, that Christmas has not arrived yet, and that everyone believes what she believes, is the likely intention, it's the most poetic, and it's the interpretation that I like best. It is still not necessarily sad, though,...
And to comment on a couple of the "what a sad song" interpretations of some commentators, I'd say: there is no single way to take it. Room is left for the reader to wonder. The interpretation that what the singer says actually occurred, that Christmas has not arrived yet, and that everyone believes what she believes, is the likely intention, it's the most poetic, and it's the interpretation that I like best. It is still not necessarily sad, though, but wonderful, if the singer believes it will come true this Christmas-- as if Christmas had never arrived yet-- despite the fact that many Christmases have come and gone. Now, her belief the visitor will return this Christmas and that her father, sister, and friends are happy for her becomes more poignant, and least to further meanings.