# WDM calls for alternative Band Aid lyrics

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/12/06/wdm-calls-alternative-band-aid-lyrics/
- Published: 2004-12-06T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**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.

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## Comments

### By: HowardLake

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/12/06/wdm-calls-alternative-band-aid-lyrics/#comment-2795
- Published: 2014-11-21T12:44:00+00:00

If you want a spoof version of Do They Know It’s Christmas? which parodies some 
of the song’s unenlightened and more patronising lyrics, try Africa for Norway:

[http://www.africafornorway.no/](http://www.africafornorway.no/) I imagine WDM would
approve.