“Getting Ready For Christmas Day” by Jeff Scher

Brooklyn-based filmmaker Jeff Scher created this mixed-media music video for Paul Simon’s “Getting Ready For Christmas Day.” The quirky assortment of visuals don’t match the rhythms of the song very well, but they do graphically complement Simon’s lyrics, which touch on subjects like the tough economy and American soldiers fighting overseas during the holidays. Simon’s vocals are interwoven with recordings of pre-WWII Christian preacher Reverend J.M. Gates.

Full song lyrics after the jump:

Getting Ready For Christmas Day lyrics

From early in November to the last week of December
I got money matters weighing me down
Oh the music may be merry, but it’s only temporary
I know Santa Claus is coming to town

In the days I work my day job, in the nights I work my night
But it all comes down to working man’s pay
Getting ready, I’m getting ready, ready for Christmas Day

Reverend Gates :
Getting ready for Christmas Day
And let me tell you, namely, the undertaker, he’s getting ready for your body
Not only that, the jailer he’s getting ready for you
Christmas day. Hmm? And not only the jailer, but the lawyer, the police force
Now getting ready for Christmas day, and I want you to bear it in mind

I got a nephew in Iraq it’s his third time back
But it’s ending up the way it began
With the luck of a beginner he’ll be eating turkey dinner
On some mountain top in Pakistan

Getting ready, oh we’re getting ready
For the power and the glory and the story of the
Christmas day

Reverend Gates:
Getting ready, for Christmas day. Done made it up in your mind that I’m going, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago. I’m going, on a trip, getting ready, for Christmas day. But when Christmas come, nobody knows where you’ll be. You might ask me. I may be layin’ in some lonesome grave, getting ready, for Christmas day

Getting ready oh we’re getting ready
For the power and the glory and the story of the
Christmas day
Yes we’re getting ready

Reverend Gates:
Getting ready, ready for your prayers, “I’m going and see my relatives in a distant land.” Getting ready, getting ready for Christmas day

If I could tell my Mom and Dad that the things we never had
Never mattered we were always okay
Getting ready, oh ready for Christmas day
Getting ready oh we’re getting ready
For the power and the glory and the story of the
Christmas day

(song lyrics via Brooklyn Vegan)