We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Alex Mackinnon - Christmas in Palestine

from A Bluer State of Christmas by Various Artists

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 USD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

My Christmas memories are happy ones; there was feeling of anticipation the night before, waking up and racing to the tree to see what I’d been given, and gathering with family and eating to our hearts’ content. For this song I tried to imagine what December 25 is like for the most oppressed people around the globe, ironically many of whom live in or around the place where the original Christmas narrative takes place. It’s baffling to me how all the major religions have been exploited by hypocrites to perpetrate violence, xenophobia, and inequality, despite these being fundamental things that these religions are supposed to be against. The same people complaining about a “War on Christmas” in this country are the ones outraged about taking in refugees and asylum seekers. The state of Israel was supposed to have been founded to grant refuge to a people who were dehumanized and scapegoated, but in turn it has done the same to the Palestinian people. Saudi Arabia (with US support) blocks food and medicine shipments to parts of Yemen, causing starvation on a staggering scale and a mass cholera epidemic. It seems to me if there was a guy with a magical sleigh and flying reindeer he’d do better to bring these people food than a bunch of plastic toys to kids who didn’t really need them. - Alex Mackinnon

lyrics

Will Santa’s sleigh ride o’er the Gaza Strip?
Or will the blockade force him to skip all those children?
Will he bring food to those starving in Yemen, or did they choose the wrong sect of religion?

In America there’s a strong force of hate;
In mosque, synagogue, school or church you’re not safe.

Christmas in Palestine
Christmas in Yemen
America turns its back on starving children
There are some who want this to be a Christian nation, but violence is really our one true religion.

Jesus has decided to return at last; he’s marching northward in a caravan.
Escaping the terror that we’ve supported
Maybe he’ll be gunned down at the border.

The second coming of your lord and savior, but your bible tells you to shoot thy neighbor.

Chorus

Injustice abroad, but there’s just as much here
The gap between rich and poor grows every year

As I wolf down another piece of warm pie on Christmas Day I think of Palestine.
Santa, Jesus, Allah, Hashem, Mohammed
If anyone’s listening help us we need it.

credits

from A Bluer State of Christmas, released December 10, 2018
Performed, Written, and Originally Recorded by: Alex Mackinnon

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Hoover Dam Collective image

Hoover Dam Collective New York

The Hoover Dam Collective is a group of young artists based in Brooklyn, NY, who are particularly interested in making work that crosses the boundaries of traditional art disciplines. The Collective was founded in 2009 at SUNY Purchase College. The HDC produces performances in and around New York City, which feature collaboration between music, dance, film, theater, comedy, and visual art. ... more

contact / help

Contact Hoover Dam Collective

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Christmas in Palestine, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now