Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by the Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir

I believe that everyone and their mother knows that “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by the Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir isn’t a recent release, but it was released in 1971. You are likely asking why I picked this song. In early December, a radio host asked this question to listeners: Which Christmas song do you wish were the least played? My answer would have to be this one.

I get that it has a strong and powerful message of activism for peace, a lesson that we can see the world has yet to learn, which is part of the bitter taste I have for this song. A thought I had while I was writing this was: how, as a child, you hear and learn, in your language, which words you repeat on autopilot this time of year. However, as a child, you don’t put much of a meaning into what you are saying when everyone else is saying it too.

As an adult, while I was ‘singing’ the same thing, I started reading between the lines more, because that’s part of tradition, which every country has, like retelling a story. The particular I’m thinking of talks about a kid saying Santa to bring them a toy, but at the same time saying how they only have one parent because their mother died. Also hoping that Father Christmas won’t forget them. Looking back in Maltese history, how badly the Maltese suffered from poverty post-war, being located in the centre of Europe.

Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” lyrics:

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas (war is over)
For weak and for strong (if you want it)
For rich and the poor ones (war is over)
The road is so long (now)
And so happy Christmas (war is over)
For black and for white (if you want it)
For yellow and red ones (war is over)
Let’s stop all the fight (now)

A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas (war is over)
And what have we done (if you want it)
Another year over (war is over)
And a new one just begun (now)
And so happy Christmas (war is over)
We hope you have fun (if you want it)
The near and the dear one (war is over)
The old and the young (now)

A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

War is over, if you want it
War is over now

Happy Christmas!

A Message of Hope:

Remember the joy of the present

But also the work

You did in the past

Which led you to where you are

Hold on to the good

Try to heal the bad

Before you move on

Alex