There's always a possibility that this line is a protest from a songwriter commissioned to write a Christmas song about the most wonderful time of the year when said songwriter really likes halloween...
OMG I literally broke up with a guy in college over "Do They Know It's Christmas?"... He refused to acknowledge how bad it was, we got in a fight, etc. etc. etc.
But it IS scary, especially in my fave version (from 1951, and one of my fave flix of all time), the one w Alastair Sim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsMYwgnfKAE; not to make a federal case about it- what you wrote is otherwise unimpeachable and right on and I loved it. Also loved the one before this about the one good cat (commented about that, too, but don't know if it posted, as I was getting frustrated w all the hoops i had to jump through to post it.) Also, (off topic, but-) another fab uniquely depressing ghost movie you might want to see is "A Ghost Story": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6265828/
We watch the Alastair Sim version every Christmas Eve!! (He is, in fact, one of the inspirations for a certain person's name.) You're right that it definitely has some scary moments. That Jacob Marley is no joke. Will check out the movie.
Oh my gosh, Do They Know it’s Christmas …  you nailed it. It’s so cringe and I hate 1984 me for loving that song and thinking it was noble and grand. A relic of a world where globes always placed North America in the front and center, and “Africa” was evidently a tiny country. 
But... it’s also a reminder of how far we’ve come, how much we’ve grown - and I sheepishly admit I still got a little tingly hearing George Michael and Simon Le Bon burst out BUT SAY A PRAYER. if only we could rewrite 75% of the lyrics.
YES! It's a particularly poignant instance of that weird guttural 80s new-romantic vocal thing that all those guys did. (The Tears for Fears guy was obviously the master.)
Thank you!! But I'm not buying the 'Christmas Carol' theory. I mean, yes, there are ghosts in it. But would anyone ever refer to it as a "scary ghost story"? It's a redemptive tale! Also, the song says STORIES, plural! Dammit! ;-D
I always thought the scary ghost stories referred to A Christmas Carol. That bony finger pointing at Scrooge's grave haunted me as a kid.
That occurred to me (I was also haunted by that finger) but that would be a scary ghost story singular. What are the other ones, huh? HUH?
There's always a possibility that this line is a protest from a songwriter commissioned to write a Christmas song about the most wonderful time of the year when said songwriter really likes halloween...
I came to save the same thing. I have spent so much time thinking about that line, and that was my conclusion as well!
I dunno....does anyone really think of 'A Christmas Carol' as a "scary ghost story"? Seems a stretch to me! ;-D
OMG I literally broke up with a guy in college over "Do They Know It's Christmas?"... He refused to acknowledge how bad it was, we got in a fight, etc. etc. etc.
I love this.
But it IS scary, especially in my fave version (from 1951, and one of my fave flix of all time), the one w Alastair Sim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsMYwgnfKAE; not to make a federal case about it- what you wrote is otherwise unimpeachable and right on and I loved it. Also loved the one before this about the one good cat (commented about that, too, but don't know if it posted, as I was getting frustrated w all the hoops i had to jump through to post it.) Also, (off topic, but-) another fab uniquely depressing ghost movie you might want to see is "A Ghost Story": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6265828/
We watch the Alastair Sim version every Christmas Eve!! (He is, in fact, one of the inspirations for a certain person's name.) You're right that it definitely has some scary moments. That Jacob Marley is no joke. Will check out the movie.
Oh my gosh, Do They Know it’s Christmas …  you nailed it. It’s so cringe and I hate 1984 me for loving that song and thinking it was noble and grand. A relic of a world where globes always placed North America in the front and center, and “Africa” was evidently a tiny country. 
But... it’s also a reminder of how far we’ve come, how much we’ve grown - and I sheepishly admit I still got a little tingly hearing George Michael and Simon Le Bon burst out BUT SAY A PRAYER. if only we could rewrite 75% of the lyrics.
YES! It's a particularly poignant instance of that weird guttural 80s new-romantic vocal thing that all those guys did. (The Tears for Fears guy was obviously the master.)
But do they know it Christmastime????? Love this!
re: Wonderful Christmastime -- don't get me started on this part:
----
The choir of children sing their song
They practiced all year long
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding dong
-----
Really? Really, need to practice that all year long did they?
hahahahhaha --seriously. And what kind of song is that anyway??
3 ghosts in “Christmas Carol”, past present and future. Another great column, tho- I’m officially a fan!
Thank you!! But I'm not buying the 'Christmas Carol' theory. I mean, yes, there are ghosts in it. But would anyone ever refer to it as a "scary ghost story"? It's a redemptive tale! Also, the song says STORIES, plural! Dammit! ;-D