“And So This is Christmas…..”

by Joe Facinoli | Joe’s Corner |

So many “Christmas” songs are just schmaltzy commercial nonsense, even though a few are actually quite good musically, and some even deliver a real message.

There should never be a problem with telling the story of Christmas, just as long as it celebrates the overall “spirit” of this season.

With all the goodness, hope, and light it represents, but with no agenda, and being much more inclusive. Too many songs of this season, …simply do not accomplish any of this.

But among all popular “Christmas” songs, one in particular sticks out from the “usual suspects” that get offered up every December, and which hammer at us for thirty days or more, ad nauseum, from every radio, elevator, and grocery store sound system.

That would be the one song, with its short and powerful stanzas, which may have the simplest, and yet most direct messages of all the songs of this season, contained within.

John Lennon’s classic: “And So This Is Christmas….”. Which wasoriginally titled simply: “Happy Christmas”.

This one can’t help but stay with you, especially if you really think about the fundamental points, and basic common sense and goodness, …that are in these lyrics.

Lennon had, and continues to have, a palpably strong and deep influence on so many, some of whom were not even alive when he was taken from us, during another Christmas season, now 42 years ago.

But his words, his melodies, and his messages, will forever live on. They are considered by many in those masses of followers and “believers”, to be as much “gospel” as any ever written, ….now, or even from hundreds of years ago.

Please “listen” here, …with your mind open, …and your heart as well, to what our old friend John has to tell us. Feel his plaintive pleading, within his persuasive words, and their hopeful, however haunting, …yet strangely soothing melody.

The words and notes of this song should stay in our heads, and the relevance of its message should ring out to us, especially given the negative social and political situations and climates, which never seem to end.

It’s a song of hope. A simple song with simple lyrics, forged from struggling times, and people. Much like today, and really, …every day.

The “standard” Holiday tunes of this time of year, are no match for the almost dirge-like, but somehow upbeat tone of these words and lines of music, which go so much deeper, and encompass so much more, than those “standards”.

Let’s listen to a few.

“And so this is Christmas……..“

“And so this is Christmas, …and what have we done………??”

And just what have we done, …anyway?

Are we proud of ourselves, that we have collectively created this giddy, commercial, and artificial, …”What did you get me?”, or “…Can’t wait ‘til Black Friday!”, completely insincere celebration of the birth of some random guy (it seems to most now), who lived two thousand years ago??

Whose remembrance and words still endure for so many, and, as the story is told, showed up here with the sole purpose of saving this wretched world ??

And who, oh by the way, as the story continues, …gave his life in the process!!

Does anything that we have done, to cheapen and misrepresent this event, and regardless of our personal beliefs, measure up in any way, to that noble and totally selfless story ??!!

Or, have the “40% off” signs, or the “Buy one, get one Free, …Today Only!” deals, at your favorite Big Box store and internet connection, and everywhere, totally erased all semblance of the original reason for this unique time?? And don’t forget the free shipping !! (But only if you hurry, and act now, that is.)

Maybe this IS just a celebration of the winter solstice, ….after all.

“A very Merry Christmas, …and a Happy New Year, …let’s Hope it’s a Good one, …without any Fear.”

Wow! …No fear ?

That would be a good thing, …on so many levels. We could hope for that.

No fear of losing our jobs, our houses, our health insurance, or our control over our government. No fear of losing our Constitutional rights, or of election tampering and fraud, no more pointless wars, or of having a loved one or friend go, and of losing them there.

No fear of being overtaken by political, religious, or cultural philosophies or dogmas, which all seem to preach inclusion for everyone and anyone, but so quickly exclude, and punish or even eliminate (in the very worst cases), those who do not kiss the rings or the feet of the self-anointed.

Yes, ….no fear would be a very good thing, …for this coming year, …and for always.

“And so this is Christmas, …for Weak and for Strong, …for Rich and for Poor Ones, …the World is so Wrong.”

A bit pessimistic, perhaps, but nonetheless a reality for so many. A world that should be filled with so much hope, promise, and glorious anticipation, has had that shattered far too often, and usually, …so unnecessarily.

“And so Happy Christmas, …for Black and for White, …for Yellow and Red Ones, ….let’s stop all the fight.”

And not just the wars, scattered all over the world, but in our own cities, right down to so many of our streets.

Lennon actually wrote this in 1971, during the horrific Vietnam “Conflict”, but it’s still relevant today,…unfortunately. And if he had written it today, I’m sure he would have somehow included the “Brown Ones”.

It seems that the people of this planet just can’t find a way to simply stop all the madness, and get past their juvenile, self-vested differences, in a more civilized and reasonable, big boys and girls manner.

Which means no one has to die, nor be cast out, nor aside, just because they believe in a different God, or in the same one, only in a different way, …nor because they speak a different language, …nor that their skin pigment (or their lifestyle) doesn’t happen to match our own.

“And so this is Christmas, …We hope you have fun, …the Near and the Dear ones, ….the Old and the Young.”

A hopeful finish. One that expresses the wish for joyous times, with family and friends. And of togetherness, not only with those close to us, but ALL with whom we come in contact,….regardless.

John Lennon always goes that one extra step, and makes his meanings much broader than their seeming simplicity. Yes, the “near and dear ones“, of course, and always, but just as important, don’t forget about everyone else we may encounter.

The “the old and the young” ….means everybody.

And knowing the turbulent times in which he lived, and when it was that he wrote his brilliance, we can accept that he had to stay true to himself, even in a “Christmas” song.

The last line (and in fact, this line is heard softly, behind several previous lines) is blunt, and extremely forceful, but real. Not the kind of words we are used to, nor usually want to hear, when we’re singing away about Christmas.

“War is Over, …if you Want it,……..War is over NOW……!!”

Blunt and forceful, …yes, but no more so than war itself, and so much cultural strife. Just why is it that we need to continue these insanities ???? That’s what Lennon asked, and sincerely wanted to know.

Why wouldn’t he end this simple, beautiful song of Christmas, with such a straightforward, and forcefully insistent cry, for the world to come to its senses and stop all the racial bitterness, cultural pettiness, and political nonsense, …muchless war??

If that hope is not the true spirit and meaning of this holiday season, and the supposed reason for the celebration of an event held so blessed and dear, in the hearts of so many hundreds of millions,……… then what is ??

And then he ends it with best wishes for all, sung by him, and a choir of kids:

“Happy Christmas !! ”

Listen to his words, carefully and reflectively, and think about what our good friend is telling us in his perfect ode, sent straight to both our minds and hearts, at this special time of year.

And DO embrace, and hold dear to, that which moves you with passion and spirit, ….from anywhere, anyone, or anything.

That which can take you, and all the rest of us in this world, regardless of which religion we practice, or not, …nor what kind of faith we hold, or not, …to a place where we can be truly deserving of the gifts, both tangible and spiritual, which this life, and this season, bring to us.

The ones which represent for us, ….the true meaning of Christmas.

Lennon seems to be telling us to have real patience, tolerance, and understanding of others. ALL others.

Let’s do some of that.

Young or old, …weak or strong, …black or white, …yellow and red, ….and even the brown ones (so many of whom cut our grass, cook our food, and clean our houses).

Doesn’t take a religion, ….to figure out that request.

Just a good, pure heart,….and the “Christmas” spirit.

“And so Happy Christmas, …..another year Over, …and a New One just begun …!”

Feliz Navidad !!

Joe Facinoli

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