I hate how everyone is over-thinking & criticizing this song!!! If you weren't alive in the early '80's & your only reading the lyrics then maybe... But I remember when there was no satellite tv & every channel was covering the famine in Ethiopia - the REASON for this song!!! If anyone ever looked at a map, there are no rivers in Ethiopia, only a few scattered bodies of water..not to mention, a holy place & majority Christian. They were experiencing serious drought, huge dust storms, disease with no medical near by, & everything & everyone was dying!! Nothing grows without rain. The song was done quickly after Thansgiving; telling others while your celebrating remember what's happening elsewhere- don't take your blessings for granted & also give to others! People tend to be more giving at Christmas & at that time of year, radios only play Christmas music. This disaster wasn't any different than the tsunamis & hurricanes of today, just wasn't as much coverage in those days. I'll never forget those images of those people; starving, in the desert-like conditions, having to watch every thing around them slowly die.. When you're living a humble life with no frills, trying to feed your children, your village, you forget about everything else. It changed people's lives. Stop judging things you don't know about or what others did to try to help! And yes, the greatest gift those in Ethiopia, Africa got that year was life- they survived with help of food & water from the outside!!! GET A GRIP PEOPLE!! THERE ISNT ANYTHING CONDESENDING ABOUT THIS SONG!!! IT STATED TRUE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT TIME (1984) IN HISTORY!!! STOP PICKING IT APART WORD BY WORD!!!
Instead, remember any of those who are having to do without the basic needs of life; give to others & do your part to help our world, rather than sit back & think "thank God it's them & not me" - just as implied in this song.
As Mother Teresa said, "if you can't feed many, then at least feed one".
As far as the "saying"(as stated below) -"give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, you feed him for a lifetime" - ITS NOT A SAYING - YOU'RE QUOTING JESUS CHRIST TO HIS DISCIPLES!
Stop busying your lives with overthinking & criticism - busy yourselves with kindness, love & helping your fellow man!
God's peace to all
I hate how everyone is over-thinking & criticizing this song!!! If you weren't alive in the early '80's & your only reading the lyrics then maybe... But I remember when there was no satellite tv & every channel was covering the famine in Ethiopia - the REASON for this song!!! If anyone ever looked at a map, there are no rivers in Ethiopia, only a few scattered bodies of water..not to mention, a holy place & majority Christian. They were experiencing serious drought, huge dust storms, disease with no medical near by, & everything & everyone was dying!! Nothing grows without rain. The song was done quickly after Thansgiving; telling others while your celebrating remember what's happening elsewhere- don't take your blessings for granted & also give to others! People tend to be more giving at Christmas & at that time of year, radios only play Christmas music. This disaster wasn't any different than the tsunamis & hurricanes of today, just wasn't as much coverage in those days. I'll never forget those images of those people; starving, in the desert-like conditions, having to watch every thing around them slowly die.. When you're living a humble life with no frills, trying to feed your children, your village, you forget about everything else. It changed people's lives. Stop judging things you don't know about or what others did to try to help! And yes, the greatest gift those in Ethiopia, Africa got that year was life- they survived with help of food & water from the outside!!! GET A GRIP PEOPLE!! THERE ISNT ANYTHING CONDESENDING ABOUT THIS SONG!!! IT STATED TRUE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT TIME (1984) IN HISTORY!!! STOP PICKING IT APART WORD BY WORD!!! Instead, remember any of those who are having to do without the basic needs of life; give to others & do your part to help our world, rather than sit back & think "thank God it's them & not me" - just as implied in this song. As Mother Teresa said, "if you can't feed many, then at least feed one". As far as the "saying"(as stated below) -"give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, you feed him for a lifetime" - ITS NOT A SAYING - YOU'RE QUOTING JESUS CHRIST TO HIS DISCIPLES!
Stop busying your lives with overthinking & criticism - busy yourselves with kindness, love & helping your fellow man! God's peace to all