Father Christmas (song)

"Father Christmas" is a song by English rock band the Kinks, released in 1977.

It tells of a department store Father Christmas who is beaten up by a gang of poor kids who tell him to give them money instead of toys, as toys are impractical; and asks that the toys be given "to the little rich boys."

Background and release

"Father Christmas" is sung from the perspective of a Mall Santa who is mugged by working class kids, who tell him to leave his presents for "the little rich boys" and request for money and jobs for their parents instead. Guitarist Dave Davies commented on the song, "I love the humor of it, and the aggression and bitterness. I could see the faces of my parents when Christmas came around. They had to struggle to make ends meet. We kind of got what we needed, but there was something fake about the holiday." In live performances, singer Ray Davies would dress up in full Father Christmas attire.

The song features a punkish arrangement with prominent guitar riffs. Dave Davies commented, Father Christmas' is very special to me, 'cause t wasan opportunity to put interesting guitar parts in there…guitar riffs that thinksound great." The track also features Christmas bells to add to the holiday theme.

The single was released in November 1977. It was accompanied by a music video featuring Ray Davies dressed as the titular character.

"Prince of the Punks"

The B-side to the single was another Ray Davies composition, "Prince of the Punks". It was written in the bitter aftermath of Davies' troubled stint as the co-producer for Café Society's debut album, which was issued in 1975. Davies wrote as part of the lyrics, "Tried to be gay/But it didn’t pay/So he bought a motorbike instead", in direct reference to Tom Robinson, one of the band members of the short-lived Cafe Society.

Legacy

The song has been covered a number of times by bands including the Gigolo Aunts, Dispatch, Green Day, Man Overboard, Bad Religion, Warrant, Lit, Bowling For Soup, Save Ferris, Letters to Cleo, Smash Mouth, Cary Brothers, Action Action, Everything, Deer Tick, OK Go, The Unlikely Candidates, Cheap Trick, Matt Nathanson, Chris Jericho, and The Riverboat Gamblers. Jazz vocalist Jacqui Naylor included the song on her 2007 album ''Smashed For The Holiday''.

The track appeared in a TV spot for ''Unaccompanied Minors'' and in episodes of the TV series ''That '70s Show'' and ''Bob's Burgers''. The song also appeared in the 2008 comedy film '' Step Brothers''.

The track was included on the Arista compilation ''Come Dancing with The Kinks'' and is also available as a bonus track on the CD reissue of the Kinks' 1978 album ''Misfits''. Warrant's cover was featured on a hair metal Christmas tribute record called ''We Wish You a Hairy Christmas'', where it was the opening track.

References

1977 songs
The Kinks songs
Songs written by Ray Davies
Bad Religion songs
British Christmas songs
Songs about poverty
Songs about Santa Claus
Arista Records singles

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