Some holiday Love

Posted by John
December 17, 2005

I guess it’s a small thing, but I look forward every year to David Letterman’s last new show before Christmas, because the musical guest is always Darlene Love singing “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” They go all out on the arrangement, and it’s really nice.

Well, tonight I got an early and unexpected treat — the Robert Smigel cartoon on “Saturday Night Live” was a wonderful novelty song by Darlene Love, “Christmastime for the Jews,” about what it’s like to be Jewish in New York on a day when so many businesses and public institutions are closed. It was done in black and white stop motion animation. It was charming and funny without being disrespectful to either Jews or Christians, and the music was in a classic retro-60s style not unlike “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”

Then, as an extra added treat, when the cartoon was over the bumper to commercial had Darlene Love live, in the studio, singing with the SNL band!

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  • marc
    i saw this too. very funny. i'd love to get a copy of the video. any ideas of where i might be able to find it online?
  • Steven
    I'd love a link to that video, as well. At the very least, the transcribed lyrics would be much appreciated.
  • Jill
    Me too! Best clip EVER!
  • Rachel
    Even just the lyrics would be great.
    Anyone have a link?
  • I loved Christmastime for the Jews as well, but I think that Lazy Sunday was the highlight of the night.

    Shampeless plug: I posted a bit about the difference between the lyrics in Christmastime for the Jews that showed up in the closed captions and the lyrics as sung by Darlene Love.

    http://comedian.blogspot.com/2005/12/for-reason...
  • marc
    You can see the "Lazy Sunday" Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=zLElfJ9YCh0

    But still looking for “Christmastime for the Jews.”
  • Video of Christmastime for the Jews:
    http://www.janesays.org/wordpress/ChristmasTime...
  • David W.
    For those people looking for the lyrics, here's what I've been able to put together. Brackets indicate my uncertainties, so help out if you can.

    Christmastime for the Jews

    by Robert Smigel, Matt O’Brien, Eric Drysdale, Julie Klausner


    On Christmas eve the Gentiles gather ‘round the Christmas tree.
    They stay at home and party with their goyishe family.
    They disappear one day each year and pass the eggnog ‘round,
    but it’s all right, ‘cause that’s the night the Jews control the town.

    Well it happens every year on Christmas eve.
    All the happy Christian people take their leave.
    Yeah, the streets are deserted and there’s big news:
    It’s Christmastime for the Jews.

    Yeah, the Holiday party starts ‘bout 6 PM.
    Ain’t nobody recreated [???]
    Yeah, the three wise men, that’s a big old snooze.
    Christmastime for the Jews.

    They can finally see King Kong without waiting in line.
    They can eat in Chinatown and drink their sweet-ass wine.
    They can crank Barbara Streisand on the streets they cruise.
    Christmastime for the Jews.

    They can gang up on the Quakers, play for the Lakers,
    [they can do what they wanna, be the soul of Madonna.]
    Get a chance to drive a tractor, win on Fear Factor,
    See Fiddler on the Roof with actual Jewish actors…

    Now they really get the party going after dark,
    Circumcising grateful squirrels in the city park,
    Picking fights in the bars, knowing they can’t lose.
    Christmastime for the Jews.

    Now it’s nearly 10:30. Yes, it’s time for bed,
    Daily Show reruns dancing in their heads.
    Maybe next year they’ll learn how to hold their booze.
    Christmastime for the Jews.
    [???]
    Christmastime for the Jews.
    Don’t get sick now.
    Christmastime for the Jews.
    [???]
  • Chris
    they can do what they wanna, even blow off Madonna
  • dane
    And the missing line was :

    "Ain't nobody recreating Bethlehem." I.e. no more manger scenes.
  • Dave M
    Link To Christmastime for the Jews Video


    http://www.youtube.com/p.swf?video_id=Yb7Z0HpRx...
  • FYI, it is also up on iTunes for legal purchase...
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