Lyrics for Christians And The Pagans as interpreted by Moonfaerie

Christians And The Pagans Lyrics
Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday,
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay."
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree,
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with Red Dye No. 3.
He told his niece, "Its Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style,"
She said, "Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and its been awhile."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said,
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses.

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch,
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a wtich?"
His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning," and she hit the kitchen,
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "It's true, your cousin's not a Christian,"
"But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share,
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere,"

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning,
'Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.

When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother."
Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father.
He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year,
He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas, and your daughter's here."
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve, saying,
"Can I be a Pagan?" Dad said, "We'll discuss it when they leave."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold.
---
"The Christians and the Pagans" as written by Dar Williams
Lyrics © BUG MUSIC
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sakebox
03-04-2003

 Rated  0 
One of my very favorite Dar songs.

400 years ago, Christians burned witches. Now, with religious tolerance, we get to know people of different faiths. When that happens, the differences seem less extreme.

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imthe_eviltwin
06-18-2004

 Rated  0 
Great song! It has so many subtle messages in it. I had an awesome college prof who would play it in her sociology of religion classes.

Best line: And where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning,
'Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.

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VampedVixen
11-07-2004

 Rated  0 
Liberal gay pagans and family-oriented conservative Chrisitans celebrating the holidays together.. sounds like my family. I love this! It's interesting because very few people even know about paganism let along write songs about it.

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viva con amore
04-15-2006

 Rated  0 
Jane and Amber are lovers, i apparently just found this out. At first i thought sister's but then i listened more closely, when the uncle metions amber only as his niece. crazy.

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aredridel
06-03-2006

 Rated  0 
This one gets a lot of airtime in my family's house around the winter solstice, when we're dealing with a family with three or four religious persuasions, plus the usual work of family getting together when it's sometimes stressful.

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flawedifnotfreee
09-27-2006

 Rated  0 
this song was the song my mom played when i was growing up, so i always connected to it through nostalgia, but now, having discerned the meaning of the lyrics, i love it more than ever. i love the allegory here; it's sharp and intelligent. and i love the humor in the lyrics -- humor is often the sharpest, most effective criticism. its a clever look at intolerance, relevant 400 years ago and perhaps even more so now.

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powertrash
12-20-2006

 Rated  +1 
The Pagans burned the Christians.
And then the Christians burned the Pagans.
And now everyone eats dinner together. :P

This song is *amazing.*

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moggymania
02-03-2007

 Rated  +1 
They aren't necessarily lovers... It's not unusual for younger women to take trips together (i.e. "Road Buddy"), and some of the "Pagan" religions have a very strong emphasis on spiritual sisterhood. (Explanation weak because I'm atheist, and going off what my Wiccan friends have said over the years.)

In concert 1/28/2007, DW said the song was written in the Clinton years, because so many kinds of people that formerly hated each other had become friends. She then said that the last several years, it has felt more like some fantasy she made up or a dream she had.

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1 Reply  · 
TwiceBorn
10-16-2010

 Rated  0 
Cute song.

The problem is that those people weren't real Christians. Traditional Christian belief is neither to kill pagans or overlook differences. The "Christian way" it to love the pagan and point out that they have committed crimes against the one true monotheistic God. And that that God has no choice but to punish them unless they repent and turn to him.

More appropriately titled: The Pagans and the Pagans

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