mandymag.com

I love Christmas! The holidays were always well celebrated in my home growing up.  Huge Christmas Eve parties were held annually.  As I grow older and start my own holiday traditions, the holidays still hold a special place in my home.  The gatherings may not be as big, but the spirit is still alive and well.  However, that being said, I tend to get a little melancholy at times during the holiday season.  I know it is a hard time of year for many folks dealing with the stress of the season and thinking about past Christmas’ or friends and family who are no longer around. 

When I’m feeling down or cynical during this time of year there are a few things that always bring a smile to my face.  One such thing is listening to the song “St. Stephen’s Days Murders” sung by Elvis Costello.

When I first heard the song a few years back, I wasn’t exactly sure what the title of the song meant or what some of the lyrics meant, but with the Celtic background music of the Chieftains and Elvis Costello’s English accented voice singing lines like:

“gin flavored whiskers and kisses of sherry”

and

“lights from the Christmas tree blow up the telly”

the song made me laugh and I loved it immediately!

 

I decided to google and wikipedia some of the unknown items to me that are embedded in the song title and lyrics (click on the underlined words below for more informaton):

 

St. Stephen’s Day Murders (Paddy Moloney/Elvis Costello)

I knew of two sisters whose name it was Christmas,
And one was named Dawn of course, the other one was named Eve.
I wonder if they grew up hating the season,
The good will that lasts til the Feast of St. Stephen

For that is the time to eat, drink, and be merry,
Til the beer is all spilled and the whiskey has flowed.
And the whole family tree you neglected to bury,
Are feeding their faces until they explode.

Chorus:

There’ll be laughter and tears over Tia Marias,
Mixed up with that drink made from girders.
’Cause it’s all we’ve got left as they draw their last breath,
Ah, it’s nice for the kids, as you finally get rid of them,
In the St Stephen’s Day Murders.

Uncle is garglin’ a heart-breaking air,
While the babe in his arms pulls out all that remains of his hair.
And we’re not drunk enough yet to dare criticize,
The great big kipper tie he’s about to baptize.

With his gin-flavoured whiskers and kisses of sherry,
His best Chrimbo shirt slung out over the shop.
While the lights from the Christmas tree blow up the telly,
His face closes in like an old cold pork chop.

Alternate Chorus:

And the carcass of the beast left over from the feast,
May still be found haunting the kitchen.
And there’s life in it yet, we may live to regret,
When the ones that we poisoned stop twitchin’.

Regular Chorus Repeat

 

The song is on the Chieftains - Bells of Dublin cd.  You can purchase the song for .99 cents on ITunes.

 

tags: bells of dublin, chrimbo, elvis costello, funny christmas songs, girders, s.a.d., seasonal affective disorder, st. stephen, st. stephen’s day murders, the chieftains, tia maria