Marching Church share “Christmas on Earth”

Marching Church

Danish outfit Marching Church return just before the year’s end with a Christmas carol unlike what you’d normally expect. The 7″ single comes in a mail-order only edition of 500, with 250 of the copies being on green vinyl, and the other 250 being on red vinyl. And in keeping with the looming holiday season 100 copies of each variant will also come with a special Marching Church ornament.

Frontman Elias Bender Rønnenfelt had this to say regarding the dark theme of the single:

“Christmas On Earth” is a carol about parental kidnapping. Offering no background story to clarify the motives, we journey through the racing mind of a father in the midst of the disquieting act of having abducted his own children.

Draped in the melancholic backdrop of December, “Christmas On Earth” is an ode and a contribution to the great tradition of Christmas song. Bereft of sarcasm, we shine an adult and intricate light on the sad beauty which stands as the natural backside to the sometimes one-dimensional notions of joy integrated into the season.

Embracing the trivial and banal customs that go with its territory, this is a eulogy to the benevolence of Christmas time. Now deck the halls with boughs of holly!

Lyrics:

It’s the 23rd day of December
The kids are lying in the back
Sleep has wrapped around them
They don’t know where they’re at
I believe in gift giving
We gave the utmost of all
I’ve commit my crimes and I did the time
Now I’m taking back it all

It’s cold outside
and the passing by gas stations light up the night

And it’s Christmas on earth
It’s Christmas on earth
It’s Christmas on earth
Yeah, it’s Christmas on earth
It’s Christmas, it’s Christmas, it’s Christmas on earth
Lost custody to the bitch
I deserve to see my kids

Soon they’ll send out a search team
And I know all hell awaits
She’s worried sick, of course she is
But I had to see them on Christmas day
As all the love that never came my way
And the triumphs that weren’t to be
By the time their presents are unwrapped
They’ll come knocking, looking for me

It’s cold outside
and the passing by gas stations light up the night

And it’s Christmas on earth
It’s Christmas on earth
It’s Christmas on earth
Yes, it’s Christmas on earth
It’s Christmas, it’s Christmas, it’s Christmas on earth
Paid alimony, that I did
I deserve to see my kids