St. Stephen’s Day Murders – Lyrics, Video, Star Casts & Images
Elvis Costello’s only Christmas song St. Stephen’s Day Murders is about December 26, the day after Christmas. The day is commonly known as St. Stephen’s Day in Ireland. Elvis wrote and recorded the song in 1991 for a Chieftains album, The Bells of Dublin. It gained popularity among general audiences when it was included as an extra in the 2002 Rhino re-issue of Mighty Like a Rose.
The song is a perfect portrayal of post-Christmas family life. Which is still a very fun song that the ‘cooling song’ is able to freshen up.
St. Stephen’s Day Murders Lyrics
I knew of two sisters whose name it was Christmas
And one was named Dawn of course, the other one was named Eve
I wonder if they grew up hating the season
Of the good will that lasts till the Feast of St. Stephen
For that is the time to eat, drink and be merry
‘Til the beer is all spilled and the whiskey is flowed
And the whole family tree you neglected to bury
Are feeding their faces until they explode
There’ll be laughter and tears over Tia Marias
Mixed up with that drink made from girders
And it’s all we’ve got left as they draw their last breath
And it’s nice for the kids as you finally get rid of them
In the St Stephen’s Day Murders
Uncle is garglin’ a heart-breaking air
While the babe in his arms pulls out all that remains of his hair
And we’re not drunk enough yet to dare criticize
The great big kipper tie he’s about to baptize
His gin-flavoured whispers and kisses of sherry
His best crimble shirt slung out over the shop
While the lights from the Christmas tree blow up the telly
His face closes in like an old cold pork chop
And the carcass of the beast left over from the feast
May still be found haunting the kitchen
And there’s life in it yet we may live to regret
When the ones that we poisoned stop twitchin’
There’ll be laughter and tears over Tia Marias
Mixed up with that drink made from girders
And it’s all we’ve got left as they draw their last breath
And it’s nice for the kids as you finally get rid of them (rid of them!)
In the St Stephen’s Day Murders
St. Stephen’s Day Murders – The Bells of Dublin
|
St. Stephen’s Day Murders |
|---|
|
Written by |
Paddy Moloney & Elvis Costello |
| Performed by
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The Chieftains with Elvis Costello
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| Produced by
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Paddy Moloney
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| Musicians |
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| Recorded
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May 1991, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin
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| Released
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October 28, 1991
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| Albums |
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| Various Artists collections
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CD Review’s Holiday Music Sampler, 1995
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| Length
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3:21
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| First known performance | June 30, 1995, London, England |
| Last known performance | December 20, 2010, Chicago, IL (4 known performances) |
St. Stephen’s Day Murders – Video
St. Stephen’s Day Murders – Historical Fact
The availability of information on St Stephen’s is limited. All that is known about his life is from the legends of two chapters of the New Testament book. Stephen was one of the 12 men appointed by Moses to preach the gospel. During his preaching work, Stephen did many great miracles among the people.
However, the religious leaders of the congregations of Libertine, Cyrene, and Alexandria were not impressed by Stephen’s amazing work. The religious leaders falsely accused Stephen of blasphemy against God and Moses. Also, the witness was even bribed to lie and corroborate the allegations. Stephen was consequently found guilty and taken outside the city limits to be stoned. The history concerning Stephen ends at this point and the religious leader takes over.
To pay tribute to Stephen, the Catholic Church declared December 26 as St. Stephen’s Day, because in honor of Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. On this day, also known as the Feast of St. Stephen, families would gather together to eat and drink.
Centuries later, the Irish carried on the wren bird hunting legend in which the children of each family would find a wren during the feast of St. Stephen and chase it until it was captured or died of exhaustion. After hunting a wren, children tied the dead bird to a pole or put it in a cage and paraded it around town singing songs. In this the child would stop at the neighboring houses, display his bird and collect some money and at the end of the day a huge dance would be organized across the city with the money collected by the children.
Another explanation for St. Stephen’s Day is that during the Viking raid on the Emerald Isle in the eighth century, the Wight’s foiled a potential ambush by deceiving the Irish soldiers.
Following this tradition, Catholic songwriter Elvis Costello, along with Irish legend Paddy Maloney and the Chieftains, wrote the song St. Stephen’s Day Murders, depicting one of the Irish holidays, St. Stephen’s Day.
The Stephen Day Murders originally appeared on The Chieftains’ 1991 holiday album “The Bells of Dublin”. In which the theme of the wren is revisited in the songs “The Arrival of the Wren Boys” and “The Wren in the Furze Dance”. The Stephen Day Murders also appears as a bonus track on the Rhino version of Elvis Costello’s “Mighty Like a Rose”.
Saint Stephen’s Day Messages, Quotes and Greetings
St. Stephen’s Day is also known as Constitution Day, Wren Day and Boxing Day. Observed every year on December 26th, this holiday is observed to commemorate St. Stephen who was the first Christian martyr. We bring to you the latest collection of Happy St. Stephen’s Day messages, quotes and greetings. These unique St. Stephen’s Day wishes make a perfect share on WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram with your loved ones.
Even when the believer dies, he continues to live in his belief that he has spread amongst the people. Wishing a very Happy St. Stephen’s Day to all.
When Jesus left us, he left behind Saint Stephen as his shadow. Let us follow the path he showed us to make this life worthy. Happy St. Stephen’s Day.
Wishing a very Happy St. Stephen’s Day to everyone. I wish each and every day of our life is enlightened by the teachings of Saint Stephen.
When Saint Stephen was stoned to death then Jesus himself can to take him with him by wrapping him in his arms. Warm wishes on St. Stephen’s Day.
No matter how alluring the evil is, you will always find eternal peace in the good. Sending warm wishes on the occasion of St. Stephen’s Day to you and your loved ones.
Having devotion towards the God can bring us so much inner peace and happiness that we will always be joyous and that is what St. Stephen believed in. Happy St. Stephen’s Day.
There is something for all of us to learn from Saint Stephen and that’s the right way of celebrating the auspicious occasion of St. Stephen’s Day. Happy St. Stephen’s Day to you.
St. Stephen lost his life while fighting for something he truly believed in but the good thing is that he won the battle. Wishing a very Happy St. Stephen’s Day.
Let us look up at the sky and always trust what God has chosen for us because is the best thing for us. Warm greetings on the occasion of St. Stephen’s Day to you.
This life is going to be so much better when we know that where are we heading. Wishing a very Happy St. Stephen’s Day to everyone. Let us follow the path St. Stephen showed us in life.
We will always come across the good and the evil and it is always up to us what we choose. Let us learn to choose the good and make it a Happy St. Stephen’s Day for everyone.
St. Stephen always believed that God is always there with us and is always guiding us through our lives. Warm greetings on the occasion of St. Stephen’s Day to you.
St. Stephen was the one who served the poor and the needy. On the occasion of St. Stephen’s Day, let us spread happiness around us. Wishing a very Happy St. Stephen’s Day to you.
The occasion of St. Stephen’s Day will always remind us that Saint was a great soul and we must not mourn his death, rather enlighten ourselves with the knowledge he shared. Happy St. Stephen’s Day.
A true Christian would always know that the soul of Saint Stephen was pure and it truly deserved everything better from its people. Warm wishes on St. Stephen’s Day.
Saint Stephen’s Day Images
Final Thoughts about St. Stephen’s Day Murders
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