Monicks: Unleashed

Tag: music

  • Yes, I do celebrate Christmas — only I call it Giftmas.

    Yes, I do celebrate Christmas — only I call it Giftmas.

    Ever got asked by a Christian, “do you celebrate Christmas?”. I have, frequently. I find it particularly funny, especially when they do this in public forums and the like; I bet they think they are about to make the most clever and novel statement ever as they get ready to pwn us atheists, because we do celebrate the season. Why wouldn’t we?

    Oh, Christians get quite testy, and call us ‘ignorant’ when we go through the explanation of the astronomical event called Winter Solstice, (because an astronomical event is what it is), and we mention how Christianity stole the pagan celebration of the the midwinter, that was the last feast celebration before deep winter began. Google it, it’s an interesting read.

    I really like Christmas, only — I call it Giftmas.

    Many atheists in the blogosphere have come up with witty ways to celebrate a secular Christmas, but I don’t think we do anything exceptionally different. We get time off to spend with our loved ones, we exchange presents, we eat yummy treats, the decorations, the eggnog… what’s not to like about Giftmas, the carols? Please, don’t say ‘Christians’, they are not much different during the season than they are all year-round; and we, well, we get to practice our tolerance. *giggles*

    Tim Minchin sums it up quite nicely in this very moving, sentimental song. Yes, my friends, I really like Giftmas…

    Enjoy.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q&feature=youtu.be]

    Lyrics:

    I really like Christmas
    It’s sentimental, I know, but I just really like it
    I am hardly religious
    I’d rather break bread with Dawkins than Desmond Tutu, to be honest

    And yes, I have all of the usual objections
    To consumerism, the commercialisation of an ancient religion
    To the westernisation of a dead Palestinian
    Press-ganged into selling Playstations and beer
    But I still really like it

    I’m looking forward to Christmas
    Though I’m not expecting a visit from Jesus

    I’ll be seeing my dad
    My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
    They’ll be drinking white wine in the sun
    I’ll be seeing my dad
    My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
    They’ll be drinking white wine in the sun

    I don’t go in for ancient wisdom
    I don’t believe just ‘cos ideas are tenacious it means they are worthy
    I get freaked out by churches
    Some of the hymns that they sing have nice chords but the lyrics are spooky

    And yes I have all of the usual objections
    To the miseducation of children who, in tax-exempt institutions,
    Are taught to externalise blame
    And to feel ashamed and to judge things as plain right and wrong
    But I quite like the songs

    I’m not expecting big presents
    The old combination of socks, jocks and chocolate is just fine by me

    Cos I’ll be seeing my dad
    My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
    They’ll be drinking white wine in the sun
    I’ll be seeing my dad
    My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
    They’ll be drinking white wine in the sun

    And you, my baby girl
    My jetlagged infant daughter
    You’ll be handed round the room
    Like a puppy at a primary school
    And you won’t understand
    But you will learn someday
    That wherever you are and whatever you face
    These are the people who’ll make you feel safe in this world
    My sweet blue-eyed girl

    And if, my baby girl
    When you’re twenty-one or thirty-one
    And Christmas comes around
    And you find yourself nine thousand miles from home
    You’ll know what ever comes
    Your brother and sisters and me and your Mum
    Will be waiting for you in the sun
    Whenever you come
    Your brothers and sisters, your aunts and your uncles
    Your grandparents, cousins and me and your mum
    We’ll be waiting for you in the sun
    Drinking white wine in the sun
    Darling, when Christmas comes
    We’ll be waiting for you in the sun
    Drinking white wine in the sun
    Waiting for you in the sun
    Waiting for you…
    Waiting…

    I really like Christmas
    It’s sentimental, I know…

  • For No One

    Allegedly, Paul McCartney wrote this song sitting in a chalet while on holiday with his girlfriend Jane Asher in Klosters, Switzerland, March of 1966. The working title was “Why Did It Die?”, and there is speculation that McCartney wrote the song about Asher, who was a successful London actress. The theory is that Paul wanted her to cater to his schedule, tour with him, and be the “perfect Beatle wife,” but Jane had a life and career of her own, hence the “She doesn’t need you” lyrics. Paul has never said it was about Jane specifically, however he did say, “I guess there had been an argument. I never have easy relationships with women.” He knew what he was getting into when he got involved with Jane, and being that the song was written in 1966 and they didn’t break up until 1968, it’s likely that if the song was about Jane, it wasn’t a serious argument.

    This was recorded on May 9, 16 and 19, 1966 by only two Beatles – Paul singing and playing the keyboard and bass, and Ringo on percussion, originally appeared on The Beatles’ seventh album, Revolver. McCartney used this song in his 1984 movie Give My Regards to Broad Street.

    John Lennon at some point said that this was his favorite McCartney song.

    For No One is such a beautiful song with a touch of a melancholic lonely feel to it. A brilliant example of true ballad writing.

    Enjoy!

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6iAykoKLog]

    Lyrics

    The day breaks, your mind aches
    You find that all her words of kindness linger on
    When she no longer needs you

    She wakes up, she makes up
    She takes her time and doesn’t feel she has to hurry
    She no longer needs you

    And in her eyes you see nothing
    No sign of love behind her tears
    Cried for no one
    A love that should have lasted years

    You want her, you need her
    And yet you don’t believe her when she says her love is dead
    You think she needs you

    And in her eyes you see nothing
    No sign of love behind the tears
    Cried for no one
    A love that should have lasted years

    You stay home, she goes out
    She says that long ago she knew someone but now he’s gone
    She doesn’t need him

    Your day breaks, your mind aches
    There will be times when all the things she said will fill your head
    You won’t forget her

    And in her eyes you see nothing
    No sign of love behind her tears
    Cried for no one
    A love that should have lasted years

  • Markella – Imaginary Friend

    [soundcloud url=”http://soundcloud.com/monicks/markella-imaginary-friend”]

    Lyrics

    by STYVYN

    From the commencement of life
    We’re expected to pretend
    We are taught to believe
    Things we cannot comprehend

    We are told that somewhere up above
    A friend is guiding our lives with his love

    And the moment we die
    We will get our reward
    In eternity’s hand
    We will be with our lord

    But it’s not true
    It’s completely insane
    It’s all fantasy

    There is no imaginary friend, imaginary faith, imaginary hope, imaginary love

    Now as I look at the world
    And I see reality
    I am fully aware
    Of my own mortality

    Every moment is sacred to me
    Each day brings a chance to be who I want to be

    But I need time to unlearn
    All those things that are untrue
    My thoughts were not my own
    But part of the mass collective delusion

    Reason has shown me
    There’s no imaginary friend, imaginary faith, imaginary hope, imaginary love

    If there is no god in the sky
    Why should we care, why should we even try
    To be moral human beings
    The answer is reciprocity

    I have faith in the human race to be loving neighbors
    Without imaginary friends, imaginary faith, imaginary hope, imaginary love

    I have faith in the human race to find understanding, to be loving neighbors
    Without imaginary friends, imaginary faith, imaginary hope, imaginary love

    © 2010 New Age of Reason