Jesus Christ, Big Star

Get born

Carols by Candlelight can be such a drag. The same old tunes. The same old performers. The same old, same old.

What chance to get to this song added to the playlist?

I’d hazard a guess no one will know it, but everyone will ask later, “What. Was. That. Song?”

Some will wonder if it’s a long-forgotten carol.

Some may think it’s a great carol mashup.

Some will thank the Lord that a half decent song as good as the old ones has been finally written.

Well, they’d be right on all three.

Big Star’s song is a mashup of carols, written in the 70s. So, it’s kind of modern. Well, it’s more modern than every other carol.

The song’s history can be traced to one of Big Star’s member's conversion to Christianity. However, this song wasn’t written by this member but by another.

As such, the song is seen by many as about and for his fellow band mate. You see, he suffered from depression and addiction. The song is one friend comforting another, the jangling guitar and cheerful chorus as a pick me up.

Yet others see the song as having a dig at his friend’s faith. The last line has been interpreted as mocking him…

And we’re gonna get born now

Like, being born again is going to fix everything? Like, it’s that easy – Jesus is born, so just get born?

Well, yes.

Jesus is born. Why wouldn’t you get born?

For that reason, I’d love to hear this song at Carols by Candlelight. I’d get The Wiggles to do it. Anyone other than those lightweights Campbell and Mauboy. 

I imagine Greg, Murray, Jeff and Anthon…or whatever their names are these days, jumping up and down singing…

Jesus Christ was born today!

Jesus Christ was born.

And I’d love all those who hear it, get born too.