Secular Song in Celebration of the 25th of December - Dan Bull

December the 25th is here

0.003% of a year

December the 25th is here

So we should shine a light on those who might just disappear

There’s so much hype for the 25th of December

Piles of cards to write, lists of gifts to remember

That we’re quick to forget, amidst the tinsel and splendour

That in the end we’re in it together

So I’ve picked up a pen and written a letter

But it isn’t to Santa

Though it is a wishlist of things I think we should remember

Of thinkers, inventors, figures and mentors

And different events linked to the 25th of December, listen:

William the Conqueror was crowned the King of England

Ukraine chose to leave the Soviet Union

In ancient Rome was Charlemagne’s coronation

Later, the Kingdom of Hungary’s foundation

Hong Kong succumbed to Japanese occupation

The Soviet Union saw Gorbachev’s resignation

Christmas Island found by Captain William Mynors

The adoption of The Constitution of the Republic of China

This is for Isaac Newton, I salute him

The guy who kickstarted the scientific revolution

Helena Rubinstein, Polish-American businesswoman

They’re all omitted with this discussion of Christmas coming

Isn’t it something?

And if you’re into cricket

Happy birthday Trescothick, Hasan, Jones, Cook and Grimmet

Let’s remember Quentin Crisp, Lady Morgan Sydney

Orlando Gibbons, Jinnah, Robert Ripley

The day that comedy died, this isn’t happening

First W. C. Fields, then Charlie Chaplin

This is for Hugo Bergmann and Dorothy Wordsworth

The German Nobel laureates Ruska, Windaus and Herzberg

From generousness to effortless cleverness

Respect to Annie Lennox, Noel Redding, Kenny Everett

The efforts and achievements real people do

Whether or not they succeed

Rest in peace, Beagle 2

Here’s looking at you, admidst the stars I have to thank you

Tip my hat to Humphrey Bogart, the star of Casablanca

From Cab Calloway through to Louis Chevrolet

There’s plenty more we ought to make sure we don’t forget today

Love you

We love you

Love you

We love you, love you

Love you

We love you

Love you

We love you

Not many of us have a larger heart than

The founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton

So I beg your pardon for any omission

Whether you’re a secularist or whether you’re Christian

Whatever religion, whatever your differences

We’re distant relatives so let us mend the division

Within gender, we’re more than just men and just women

We may be different races but we’re genetically kin and

We may be different ages but we still live

In the same seconds and minutes

No one’s setting the limits

So let’s end the tradition of splitting hairs

'Cause the fission of follicles just isn’t logical

Remember the mission

We’re in it together

We love you

Love you

We love you, love you

Love you

We love you

Love you

We love you, love you

Love you (love you)

We love you

Love you (love you)

We love you, love you

Love you (love you)

We love you

Love you (love you)

We love you