There are a lot of music lovers in our family, which means that at some point during this festive season discussion about favorite Christmas pop songs gets introduced. The responses are similar from year to year: someone always says Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Another likes Bruce Springsteen’s version of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” My response is always the same. It’s not Christmas for me until I hear John Lennon and Yoko Ono sing their “Happy Christmas” song.
I like their partnership in the music. I appreciate the expression of hope coupled with the commission for the listener to do something to embody that hope: So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year older, a new one just begun, they sing. A very merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. Let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear. Yes.
But my favorite part of the song, which you can hear if you click here, is the children’s chorus in the background. It’s the Harlem Community Choir, and they chime in about halfway through. Over and over, they chant war is over, if you want it. I was eight years old when the record was released, and ever since then I’ve been captured by that statement. It’s unbelievably simple. It’s also true. If everyone on the earth decided not to wage war, war would, actually, be over!
If we want it. That’s the rub. Clearly, we haven’t gotten there yet. We remain in the in-between time of Christ’s first appearance at the Incarnation and his coming again at the end of time, after all. But still. What a beautiful idea; a provocative statement, a radical commission. Imagine if it was universally embraced.
Christmastide blessings,
