[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5cX_ncZLls[/youtube]
Do They Know It’s Christmas – Band Aid
We are the world, but they were the world first. Many people are familiar with the multi-musician powerballad that Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie wrote. But they were commissioned by Harry Belafonte. And Harry Belafonte was inspired by this.
Bob Geldof was moved by news reports of the Ethiopian famine and decided to gather a group of musicians together to create this masterpiece. To my knowledge, this is the first time a group of famous musicians came together to create a single specifically for a charity benefit. It was a hit in both Europe and America. After completing Do They Know It’s Christmas, Geldof created a charity concert called Live Aid. This concert inspired Farm Aid and a multitude of other concerts for charity.
One of the most poignant lines in the song is “Well, tonight thank God it’s them instead of you,” which sardonically portrays the attitude of those who go about their lives without knowing or caring about the rest of the world. Perhaps not incidentally, that standout line was given to the lead singer of a then little-known band named U2. We now know that singer as Bono – perhaps the most outspoken musician for charity of our time. Although Bono has always had a good voice and good heart, this may be the experience that inspired him to put the two together and become much more than a musician.
This song was made in 1984 but it’s not too late to get involved in the giving. Click here to save lives this Christmas and all year long with World Vision.
Lyrics courtesy of TSRocks.com:
(lyrics and singer notes were contributed by chloe glass)
Paul Young
It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade
Boy George
And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy!
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time
(Phil Collins on the drums)
George Micheal
But say a prayer – pray for the other ones
At Christmas time
Simon Le Bon
it’s hard, but when you’re having fun
There’s a world outside your window
Sting and Simon Le Bon
And it’s a world of dreaded fear
Where the only water flowing is a bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom
Bono
Well tonight thank God it’s them instead of you
And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they’ll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain or rivers flow
Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?
Here’s to you
Raise your glass for everyone
Here’s to them
Underneath that burning sun
Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?
Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time and
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time and
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time and
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time and
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time and
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time
Click Here for the Do They Know It’s Christmas Wikipedia page.
