Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
Dave takes a weary look at this, the hippest of the hip (and probably the most undeserving song we've ever done but I digress) of the songs on this site.
It's Christmas time There's no need to be afraid At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time
Well yes indeed folks, it is Christmas time! A time for joy, laughter and six months of debt! 
Therefore I find it a little bit rich that Paul Young is telling us not to be afraid as he (at this time at least) is recognized musician and probably is loaded, whilst the rest of us have to worry about being in debt for a year or losing all our money to Fare-pak or something similar.
However, Boy George does make a compelling argument in the second half of the verse that we can make a difference in this world to people who have so little (thus ending the serious section of this article) but suggest we throw our arms around the world at Christmas time. This poses a problem unfortunately as I fear that my arms probably wouldn't fit that far considering the earth is over 7,926.41 miles (12,756.32 kilometers) in diameter and my arms are under a meter in length, I hate to say it but this one is beyond me.
But say a prayer Pray for the other ones At Christmas time it's hard, but when you're having fun There's a world outside your window And it's a world of dread and fear Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears And the Christmas bells that ring there Are the clanging chimes of doom Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you
Simon Le Bon makes a very good point in this verse that there is a world outside my window. This is quite a revelation to me as I believed there was nothing actually outside and that I existed entirely within these 4 walls, but I walk to the window and I see a lamp lit Cardiff suburb and the back of the house adjacent to mine and a side street. Not massively inspiring so I closed the curtains again, but far from being full of dread and fear it seems fairly calm, if in need of a lick of paint in the case of some houses behind mine. I wonder what is out of Simon Le Bons window.
- A previously undiscovered concentration camp?
- He's seen his wife walking up the drive?
- A gardener that has been run over by a lawn mower?
- The River Styx?
- An actual starving African Village?
All I know is I'm not seeing what he is seeing. The chaps at Band aid also seem to have a problem with their water supply too, as it seems they are being supplied human tears instead of drinking water, which is drinkable if a little salty. Sounds like a Thames Water job to me. The end of this verse I find a little callous though as Bono seems to be almost saying better them than me, which is surprising behavior from one of the world's biggest humanitarians.
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time The greatest gift they'll get this year is life (Oooh) Where nothing ever grows No rain nor rivers flow Do they know it's Christmas time at all
There won't be snow in Africa in Christmas?! 
There won't be any snow in London this year and why should it snow in Africa anyway? Unless there is some kind of cataclysmic weather change like in the day after tomorrow, which would kind of put a damper on everyone's Christmas. Still at least the Africans could make some snowmen until they freeze to death. I find some of these claims that Band Aid are making quite unsubstantiated as a lot of Africa has lush forests and greenery, not to mention the world longest river (the Nile). Do they know its Christmas though? Well I doubt it somehow considering a good portion of Africans would be celebrating Ramadan this time of year and for the rest Kwanza as well as the festivals of the tribal religions too. Many probably don't care its Christmas more than anything.
(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone (Here's to them) underneath that burning sun Do they know it's Christmas time at all
You know what; I actually think this is a nice gesture that the artists would dedicate a moment of their Christmas to the people who are less fortunate. However, this is something of a pointless gesture as it doesn't put bread on the table of the starving, but its nice all the same, that these artists can feel better about themselves for this.
Feed the world, feed the world, feed the world Let them know it's Christmas time againFeed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Well there are a number of ways that this could be achieved quite frankly:
- The artists singing could dedicate the royalties to their songs to the Africans instead of expecting Joe Public to pay for everything.
- Get the Catholic Church to sell all their land, which according to some sources could pay off the world debts and end world hunger.
- Get Bill Gates to buy Africa!
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