Not quite a Christmas Carol but just as Catchy

South African musician Marshall Harmse has come up with a brilliantly catchy Christmas song, with a great video (see below) to get South Africans in the mood for Christmas. Well, sort of. 

It’s more a protest song than a Christmas carol…with the chorus chant of  “My heart is as heavy as a stone is…Coz they took my Christmas bonus”.

But with a great wallop of South African humour, a fab female bass player, and a Jamaican melody, it’s a feel-good winner that’s sure to bring South Africans together around the fire (well, braai) in their mutual complaint that “with the E-toll the freeways not free…No cash for a summer by the sea”.

Full lyrics below.

Marshall was lead singer of ’80s band Shiraz, and played an important role in the official presentation video that secured the 2010 FIFA World Cup for South Africa. He has producing and sound engineering credits on no less than 150 albums.

And maybe now he’ll have a Christmas hit on his hands to add to his accolades!

Watch Marshall Harmse’s Video My Heart is Heavy (as a stone is):

Lyrics for My Heart is Heavy (As a Stone Is)

Chorus
My heart is as heavy as a stone is
Cause they took my Christmas bonus.
They say looking forward, it will be alrite
It’s just right now the budget’s too tight
My heart is as heavy as a stone is
Cause they took my Christmas bonus.

Verse 1
They informed us at this town hall meeting
Month end salty crax is all we’ll be eating
They crunched the numbers that crunch us
All we can do is roll with the punches?

Do three people’s jobs, for the salary of one
Then add unpaid overtime, just for fun

The unequal is more equal than the equal
It’s almost just as fair as the bloody e- toll

Verse 2
My kids can’t have presents under da tree
No eggnog and chops for me
With the E-toll the freeways not free
No cash for a summer by the sea

Me beg along a man upon the pavement
On Harley road on the weekend
Me no save no cents for my kids and me
We shall rent a plastic Xmas tree

The unequal is more equal than the equal
It’s almost just as fair as the bloody e- toll