Father Christmas
When I was small I believed in Santa Claus
Though I knew it was my dad
And I would hang up my stocking at Christmas
Open my presents and I’d be glad
But the last time I played Father Christmas
I stood outside a department store
A gang of kids came over and mugged me
And knocked my reindeer to the floor
They said
Father Christmas, give us some money
Don’t mess around with those silly toys
We’ll beat you up if you don’t hand it over
We want your bread so don’t make us annoyed
Give all the toys to the little rich boys
Don’t give my brother a Steve Austin outfit
Don’t give my sister a cuddly toy
We don’t want a jigsaw or monopoly money
We only want the real mccoy
Father Christmas, give us some money
We’ll beat you up if you make us annoyed
Father Christmas, give us some money
Don’t mess around with those silly toys
But give my daddy a job ’cause he needs one
He’s got lots of mouths to feed
But if you’ve got one I’ll have a machine gun
So I can scare all the kids on the street
Father Christmas, give us some money
We got no time for your silly toys
We’ll beat you up if you don’t hand it over
Give all the toys to the little rich boys
Have yourself a merry merry Christmas
Have yourself a good time
But remember the kids who got nothin’
While you’re drinkin’ down your wine
Father Christmas, give us some money
We got no time for your silly toys
Father Christmas, please hand it over
We’ll beat you up so don’t make us annoyed
Father Christmas, give us some money
We got no time for your silly toys
We’ll beat you up if you don’t hand it over
We want your bread so don’t make us annoyed
Give all the toys to the little rich boys
Listen to the song
Hør sangen
About the carol Father Christmas
“Father Christmas” is a Christmas song by the English rock band The Kinks, written by the band’s principal songwriter Ray Davies. It was released as a single in 1977, during a period when The Kinks were known for combining rock music with detailed observations about everyday life. The song uses the familiar figure of Father Christmas but places him in a much more realistic setting than many traditional holiday recordings.
The narrator describes a department-store Santa who encounters a group of working-class children asking for gifts. Instead of simply celebrating the magic of Christmas, the song highlights the difference between children who can expect expensive presents and those whose families have less money. The children demand practical things and express frustration with wealthy people, giving the song a social dimension beneath its humorous rock arrangement.
Christmas is therefore used as a setting for discussing inequality, expectations and the meaning of giving. The Kinks combine a recognizable holiday character with a story about class and economic hardship, making the song unusual within Christmas music. Its energetic guitar-driven sound keeps it entertaining, while its lyrics encourage listeners to think about what Christmas looks like for people with very different circumstances.
