Βάρβαρα πράγματα. St Stephen's Day Murders (Paddy Moloney/Elvis Costello)

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St Stephen's Day Murders

από τους Chieftains και τον Elvis Costello, άλμπουμ: The Bells Of Dublin (1991)

(Paddy Moloney/Elvis Costello)

I knew of two sisters whose name it was Christmas,
And one was named Dawn of course, the other one was named Eve.
I wonder if they grew up hating the season,
The good will that lasts til the Feast of St. Stephen

For that is the time to eat, drink, and be merry,
Til the beer is all spilled and the whiskey has flowed.
And the whole family tree you neglected to bury,
Are feeding their faces until they explode.

Chorus:

There'll be laughter and tears over Tia Marias,
Mixed up with that drink made from girders.
’Cause it's all we've got left as they draw their last breath,
Ah, it's nice for the kids, as you finally get rid of them,
In the St Stephen's Day Murders.

Uncle is garglin' a heart-breaking air,
While the babe in his arms pulls out all that remains of his hair.
And we're not drunk enough yet to dare criticize,
The great big kipper tie he's about to baptize.

With his gin-flavoured whiskers and kisses of sherry,
His best Chrimbo shirt slung out over the shop.
While the lights from the Christmas tree blow up the telly,
His face closes in like an old cold pork chop.

Alternate Chorus:

And the carcass of the beast left over from the feast,
May still be found haunting the kitchen.
And there's life in it yet, we may live to regret,
When the ones that we poisoned stop twitchin'.

Regular Chorus Repeat

* Το τραγούδι,ελληνιστι,Φόνοι την ημέρα του Αγίου Στεφάνου,βασίζεται σε Ιρλανδέζικο οικολογικό εθιμο, γνωστό και σαν the Wren Day.
Το wren, ειναι ενα μικροκαμωμένο πετούμενο. Στην Αγροτική Ιρλανδία μαντράχαλοι και μικρά αγόρια, την επομένη των Χριστουγέννων, φορώντας παλιόρουχα και με καπνισμένα τα πρόσωπά τους, προσπαθούν να σκοτώσουν ένα wren. Αν το καταφέρουν το φορτώνουν στη κορφή ενος στύλου, και το περιφέρουν απο σπίτι σε σπίτι, ζητώντας χρήματα για να το θάψουν,δίνοντας σε αντάλλαγμα ένα φτερό απο το δυστυχισμένο πουλάκι, τραγουδώντας τα λόγια...

The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
On St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze,
Although he is little, his family is great,
I pray you, good landlady, give us a treat.
My box would speak, if it had but a tongue,
And two or three shillings, would do it not wrong,
Sing holly, sing ivy--sing ivy, sing holly,
A drop just to drink,
it would drown melancholy.
And if you draw it of the best,
I hope in heaven your soul will rest;
But if you draw it of the small,
It won't agree with these wren boys at all

Στην Αγγλία η επομένη των Χριστουγέννων, ειναι γνωστή σαν the Boxing day, που ταιριάζει πιο πολύ
με τους στίχους του St Stephen's Day Murders.

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