Released: 2010
John Lennon’s ‘Happy Xmas – Remastered 2010’ is a song that combines the joyous sentiments of the holiday season with a strong anti-war message. It’s a poignant reminder of the need for peace, especially during a time of celebration and reflection.
The song starts with a personal touch, wishing a ‘Happy Christmas’ to Kyoko and Julian, Lennon’s children. This immediately sets a tone of warmth and familial love, which is a central theme of Christmas.
The lyrics ‘So this is Christmas, And what have you done? Another year over, And a new one just begun’ prompt listeners to reflect on their actions over the past year and the impact they’ve had. It’s a call to self-awareness and responsibility.
The repeated phrase ‘And so this is Christmas’ is a recurring reminder of the holiday season, while the following lines ‘I hope you have fun, The near and the dear ones, The old and the young’ emphasize the universal nature of Christmas, reaching out to everyone regardless of age or proximity.
‘A very merry Christmas, And a Happy New Year, Let’s hope it’s a good one, Without any fear’ – these lines express a wish for the coming year to be filled with happiness and devoid of fear, a sentiment that resonates with many, especially in times of conflict.
The lines ‘And so this is Christmas (war is over), For weak and for strong (if you want it), For rich and the poor ones (war is over), The world is so wrong (now)’ are a clear anti-war message. Lennon is saying that Christmas, a time of peace and goodwill, is for everyone, and that the world is ‘so wrong’ when it’s filled with war and conflict.
‘And so happy Christmas (war is over), For black and for white (if you want it), For yellow and red ones (war is over), Let’s stop all the fight (now)’ – these lines further emphasize Lennon’s anti-war message, calling for unity among all races and an end to all fighting.
‘War is over, if you want it, War is over now’ – this is the crux of Lennon’s message. He’s saying that war can end if people truly want it to, suggesting that peace is a collective choice.
In the end, the song repeats ‘Happy Christmas!’ several times, returning to the theme of celebration and joy, but with the underlying message of peace and unity still very much present.
