Friday 30 December 2022

A hell of a place to find heaven

This has been one strange Christmas. Not awful, but not one we'll forget in a hurry. Details later.

In the meantime, here's one of the odder Christmas songs I've encountered. It's called "Joseph, Better You Than Me", by The Killers, released in 2008.
The vocals are provided by lead singer Brandon Flowers, with guest vocalists Elton John and Neil Tennant (of the Pet Shop Boys).
 

[Vocalist: Brandon Flowers] 
Well your eyes just haven't been the same, Joseph 
Are you bad at dealing with the fame, Joseph? 
There's a pale moonshine above you 
Do you see both sides? 
Do they shove you around? 

[Vocalists: Elton John & Brandon Flowers] 
Is the touchstone forcing you to hide, Joseph? 
Are the rumours eating you alive, Joseph? 
When the holy night is upon you 
Will you do what's right? 
The position is yours 

[Vocalist: Elton John] 
From the temple walls to the New York night 
Our decisions rest on a child 
When she took her stand, did she hold your hand? 
Will your faith stand still or run away? 
Run away 

[Vocalist: Elton John] 
When they've driven you so far 
That you think you're gonna drop 
Do you wish you were back there at the carpenter shop? 

[Vocalist: Neil Tennant] 
With the plane and the lathe 
The work never drove you mad 
You're a maker, a creator 
Not just somebody's dad 

[Vocalists: Brandon Flowers, Elton John & Neil Tennant] 
From the temple walls to the New York night 
Our decisions rest on a man 
When I take the stand, will he hold my hand? 
Will my faith stand still or run away?

And the desert, it's a hell of a place to find heaven 
Forty years lost in the wilderness, looking for God 
And you climb to the top of the mountain 
Looking down on the city where you were born 
(Oh, the years since you left gave you time to sit back and reflect)

Better you than me  
Better you than me, yeah 
Well, the holy night is upon you  
Do you see both sides, do they shove you around? 
Better you than me, Joseph

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