Christmas time! Let the bells ring!
Christmas time! Peace on earth!

And the tired old bishop
climbs a foreign pulpit
for the television cameras
to announce the good news

Christ has come!
Oh, lord, Christ has come!

But no one heeds his message

It's like this every year of course

Great cheer to all!

A day of hypocrisy
and false smiles
of gift exchanges
and family reunions
and over-stuffed turkeys
dead of course
always in the spirit of the occasion

We all talk of good times
and happiness
and future plans
and rejoice in our lord's birth

But no one heeds his message

Not even the tired old bishop
putting on his white flowing robes
as well as a midnight entertainment
(of course he calls it mass)
brought to you by your local tv station
and the makers of florida orange juice

A marvelous show!
A truly christian traditonal event
marking our Lord's birth

But no one heeds his message

For two thousand years
we have ignored it
and the church which embodies the message
ignores it too

But this is a time for joy
and department stores
and midnight mass on channel nine
put on a good show
give a big gift
show you care with dollars

And the message?
no one heeds his message