Holiday Song
Reflections on Holidays: A Social Commentary by The Homeless Gospel Choir
Lyrics
Happy Fourth of July everyone
Expressing a cheerful Fourth of July greeting to everyone.
I hope the BBQ and beer treat you right
Wishing for a joyful Independence Day celebration with barbecue and beer.
I heard that freedom, isn't really free
Noting the notion that freedom comes with a cost.
That doesn't mean it's okay to kill other people
Rejecting the idea that it's acceptable to kill others, even if freedom has a price.
Because they come from different blood than you
Rejecting violence based on differences in ethnicity or heritage.
And please don't think that Jesus wants you to
Discouraging the belief that Jesus would endorse killing people of a different faith.
Kill other people cus their Muslim
Rejecting the idea of violence against Muslims in the name of religion.
Merry Christmas everyone
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and hoping for warmth and coziness for all.
I hope you're all warm and cozy in your house
Expressing empathy for children whose father is in jail and acknowledging the difficulties they face.
It's not the kids' fault that their dad went to jail
Highlighting that the children are not to blame for their circumstances.
And it's not their fault there's no food in the house
Recognizing the challenges of poverty, including the lack of food.
And Santa Claus doesn't visit their part of town
Pointing out disparities in the distribution of Santa's visits based on socio-economic factors.
And I heard a man once say that the last shall be first
Referencing the concept that the last shall be first, questioning if it applies universally or selectively.
Unless he only meant that for white Christians
Suggesting a potential discrepancy in applying certain values only to specific groups.
Happy Easter Sunday everyone
Wishing everyone a Happy Easter Sunday and complimenting their new shirts.
I think you all look really great in your new shirts
Expressing curiosity about the conditions of the child who made the new shirts.
I wonder if the kid that made it, got a new shirt too
Raising questions about the educational and living conditions of the child laborer.
And if you ever learned how to read and write
Questioning if the child has access to education and basic amenities.
Or if he has running water in his house
Raising concerns about the living conditions, particularly access to running water.
And I wonder if his mom and dad are proud of his work
Expressing uncertainty about the pride of the child's parents due to potential hardships like sweatshop labor.
Or if they died working in a sweatshop
Suggesting the possibility of the child's parents dying while working in a sweatshop.
The Gap kids, Gap, or Baby Gap, Abercrombie and Fitch or American Eagle, Banana Republic or regular old fashioned JC Penny
Listing various clothing brands, drawing attention to their potential connections with exploitative labor practices.
Hey there sweetheart I got news for you
Addressing someone affectionately and sharing news about purchasing a diamond ring.
I had a talk with your dad last night
Claiming to have spoken with the person's dad and hinting at a significant decision or conversation.
So I went out and bought you this diamond ring
Revealing the purchase of a diamond ring with a dark origin, highlighting the ethical concerns of its production.
It came from a slave mine in Africa
Describing the diamond's origin from a slave mine in Africa, emphasizing the lack of choice for the people working there.
Where people don't have the choice to leave
Highlighting the challenging conditions in the slave mine, including the absence of freedom to leave.
The man in the mine, he works under gunpoint
Pointing out the coercive nature of work in the mine, where individuals are forced to work under gunpoint.
But I bought it so that I could say I love you
Explaining the purchase of the ring as a declaration of love, despite its problematic origin.
And I bought so that I can say I care
Stating additional reasons for the purchase, including care and the desire to establish a romantic connection.
And I bought it so that I can get inside your pants
Admitting a potentially shallow motivation for the purchase, linking it to physical intimacy.
And I buy everything because I'm an American
Reflecting on consumerism and materialism, humorously suggesting a broad tendency to buy everything as an American trait.
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