WDM calls for alternative Band Aid lyrics
Howard Lake | 6 December 2004 | News
The new version of Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ might be doing fine work by generating income for the Band Aid Trust, but the World Development Movement (WDM) has condemned its lyrics for “promoting a negative and inaccurate picture of Africa and its problems.”
WDM certainly have a point. The lyrics of the Band Aid single were naff in 1984, and there has been no attempt to correct or update them with the new version.
“There’s a world outside your window, And it’s a world of dread and fear, Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears” together with “Where nothing ever grows”, “No rain nor river flows” and “(Here’s to them) underneath that burning sun” certainly give a misleading view of Africa and the reasons for poverty and food shortages.
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Does it matter that the words are wrong and misleading if the single can still achieve so much good work by selling in its millions? WDM argue that it does: “the lyrics are important and will be heard in every home and shop in Britain over the next couple of months” argues the organisation.
WDM say that they don’t want to discourage people from buying the new version of the song, but they are encouraging people to come up with alternative and more realistic lyrics. They are hoping for “lyrics that inspire people to take powerful action and lyrics that explain the real reasons why Africa remains poor.”
You can submit your improved lyrics at WDM’s Web site, or read some of those already offered.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.