DECEMBER 24TH, 2007 | ARCHIVE

I’m in my kitchen and the dust is beginning to settle on the pre Christmas build up. I hate my Christmas experience as much as usual, but this year I tried to do something about it. Actually, it was last year; I started writing this song called Thrifty Christmas about how this kid was going to get by in December, spending the least money possible, and ignoring all the Christmas bullshit going on around him.

So I picked up the baton quite happily this year. I let the kid try to explain it all to a girl that he was friends with, someone who he often sees around that time of year. He promises to tape her “John’s festive fifty.” He wants to be invited over to her house, even though he thinks her family is a bit intellectual, and he feels they look down on him somewhat.

Anyway, when I got started back at it this year, I shut my eyes and was taken over by the Christmas spirit somewhat. I took this long walk along the Clyde from Newton to Parkhead. It was dark and frosty by the time I actually got on the trail.

The river winds right through the east of the city, but because all the industry died, civilisation seems to have receeded all around, especially around the Clyde. Therefore it’s a real wilderness, with no people. I can see the lighted hills of Cambuslang and Castlemilk, and know that I’m in the middle of a conurbation, but near at hand, this may as well be the Clyde in medieval times, or from two thousand years ago..

Here’s the words to the song, which is now called..

Are you coming over for Christmas?

Boy:
Are you coming over for Christmas?
Leave your friends, I don’t think they’ll miss you much
It’s not that you aren’t pretty or funny
It’s just that they’ve got plenty more money than you

I’m going to paint the town on my days off
Cold slate roofs that glisten in starlight
Me and you, singing a carol
On the tough side of town
For the poor folk in the old mission house

If it feels like we are floating in time
Give yourself up to the desert and the night
Eastern caravans are following lights
Strangeness reigns
There’s Love in Heaven tonight

Girl:
I’ll be over sometime this christmas
If you behave yourself and don’t drink too much
I’ll come and feed the fire in your kitchen
See your tree and the view of the city all covered in snow

Boy:
Leave the boy behind you won’t miss him
Take a break from your phony kissing
There’s no mistletoe in my kitchen
Just a tree, and a view, of the city, covered in snow

If it feels like we are floating in air
Then the hour has passed it must be Christmas day
People shake your hand and wish you the best
Troubles leave, you wonder why you were sad
I’m glad you came, it must be Christmas day



I hope your Christmas is working out for you. I hope your dust is staring to settle and that you have time to enjoy the people around you. I hope that in the next week or so you have time to think back on the year. I hope the good stuff gives you goosebumps, and the bad stuff gives you wisdom and perspective.

If you’re in the north, enjoy the thought that it’s already getting lighter, a minute or so by the day. If you’re in the south then I’m jealous of you. Go out and feel the heat on your back and think of us!

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