Recently it was suggested to me by several friends that it would be great if I would write some Occupy versions of familiar carols. So for the Conway, NH Occupy event Sunday I concocted some, with occasional assistance from my wonderful partner who patiently endures the process of rhyme testing and rhythmic tweaking. I share some of the results for your caroling pleasure below.
One thing we heard a lot, out in the streets of New Hampshire, was that supposedly no one knows what we want when we are out there Occupying. Last week some folks in our area did an "Informational Occupation" and one possible sign discussed was: "Ask Me Why I Occupy."
Hmm, make that right into a Carol:
We Occupy, We Occupy
Tune: “O Tannenbaum”
We Occupy, we Occupy, we each know why we Occupy
We Occupy, we Occupy, we each know why we Occupy
So if you see us passing by
And wonder why we Occupy
Step up and ask and don't be shy -
We'll tell you why we Occupy!
All well and good, maybe needs another verse, but I haven't had time to come up with it yet.
Next, of course we must have Jingle Bells:
Occupy - tune: Jingle Bells
Occupy, Occupy, Occupy we say!
Oh what fun it is to come and Occupy today!
Occupy, Occupy, Occupy we say!
Oh what fun it is to come and Occupy today!
Tromping through the snow (or: down the street)
With a big handwritten sign
Through the town we go
'Cause things are not just fine
The banksters got away
with 16 trillion bucks
What about the rest of us?
Are we just out of luck?
No! Occupy, Occupy, Occupy we say!
Oh what fun it is to come and Occupy today!
Occupy, Occupy, Occupy we say!
Oh what fun it is to come and Occupy today!
The bankers came along
And took us for a ride
Now we are waking up
Don't feel so good inside
Our money is all gone
Our infrastructure too
Who is going to change this?
Well it's up to me and you!
So- Occupy, Occupy, Occupy we say!
Oh what fun it is to come and Occupy today!
Occupy, Occupy, Occupy we say!
Oh what fun it is to come and Occupy today!
That one got sung over and over again. OK, let's see - Deck The Halls:
Deck the town with Occupation
Deck the town with Occupation
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Heal the sorrows of this nation
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Follow me in merry measure
Fa la la la la, la la la la
While I tell of stolen treasure
Fa la la la la, la la la la
See the people all in trouble
Lives are crushed by falling bubbles
Lose our jobs and lose our houses
Poor as any church's mouses
See the people without health care
All our taxes go to wealth care
They've got billions we've got pennies
Feed the few and starve the many
Fast away the old way passes
Hail the new way lads and lasses
Though our movement's just beginning
Some important ground we're winning
Join your friends and join your neighbors
Living wage for honest labor
Heal the sorrows of this nation
Deck the town with Occupation
We got a lot of friendly waving and honking in Conway Sunday while we were singing these. And a few people made it clear they were not as pleased as others to see us out there. But best wishes for all, regardless of whether they approved or not - We wish you an Occupation!
We wish you an Occupation we wish you an Occupation
We wish you an Occupation and a Happy New Year
Good tidings to you and all of your kin
Good tidings, Occupation, and a Happy New Year!
Oh bring us some peace and justice
Oh bring us some peace and justice
Oh bring us some peace and justice
And bring it right here
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
So bring it right here
We wish you an Occupation we wish you an Occupation
We wish you an Occupation and a Happy New Year
Good tidings to you and all of your kin
Good tidings, Occupation, and a Happy New Year!
There are more - but for now I leave you with this splendid rewrite of the Hallelujah Chorus written and sung by more NH musicians: Hallelujah Corporations!
Merry Occupied Yuletide to all!