”Frightened To Death By Some Old Santa Claus…”

Året er 1962. Efterdønningerne af Cubakrisen sitrer. Verden våner sig under atommagternes spillen med musklerne. At hændelserne i oktober 1962, senere er blevet betragtet, som kulminationen på Den Kolde Krig, havde sydafrikanske/engelske Paddy Roberts ikke en chance for at vide, da han skrev den bidende og velplacerede julesang ’Merry Christmas, You Suckers’.

”Merry Christmas, you suckers, you miserable men
That old festive season is with you again
You'll be spending your money on cartloads of junk
and from here to New Year, you'll be drunk as a skunk

Merry Christmas, you suckers, it's perfectly clear
that you fall for it all a bit sooner each year
If it goes on like this, you will find pretty soon
you're singing "White Christmas" as early as June

This Christmas card racket will cost you a packet
Each season it seems to expand
The cards are so clever, though nothing whatever
to do with the subject in hand

You'll be taking the kids 'round to multiple stores
to be frightened to death by some old Santa Claus
Then it's parties with spirits and vino and beer
Merry Christmas, you suckers, and a happy New Year

Merry Christmas, you suckers, you bleary eyed lot
You'll never get rid of that headache you've got
but I hope you feel splendid, you certainly should
with your stomachs distended with turkey and pudd

Merry Christmas, you suckers, jump into your cars
Roar off to your neighbors to sink a few jars
Though your vision is double, just keep smiling through
There are others in trouble a lot worse than you

Beyond any question, acute indigestion
will plague you and make you unwell
You won't take the warning, you'll wake up each morning
undoubtedly feeling like hell

But stick to it, suckers, go swallow a pill
for this is the season of peace and good will
While we patiently wait for that nuclear blast
Merry Christmas, you suckers, it may be your last”

© Paddy Roberts