usa articles: LITTLE CINDY, Happy Birthday Jesus, 1959

Another record I picked up for a dollar in Brattleboro last summer. Little Cindy might be a little more well-known because John Waters put Happy Birthday Jesus on a CD collection of his favourite Christmas songs a couple of years ago. Yes, this is creepy.

Exploiting kids is never a good idea, no matter how talented they may be, especially not in the name of religion. On Happy Birthday Jesus Little Cindy is not even singing but basically just reciting a prayer in a very cute southern voice:

“Happy Birthday, Jesus!, Momma said that you was near,

And that you had a birthday, This time every year.

She told me how you listen to, Every word we say,

And that you hear us calling, In the night … or in the day.

She ’splained how bad they hurt you, those awful naughty men,

But said you let them do it, For girls like me … what sin.

I’d let you have my blanket, If I was here back then.

She said that you were watching, Everything we do …

Her, and daddy and Granny, And our new baby, too.

She said about the manger, they took and put you in,

And that they didn’t have to have any wealth, Or fame.

She told you was so awful good, And then she made me cry …

She said they nailed you to a cross, They wanted you to die.

I like what momma told me, Of how you healed the lame,

and then it made me happy, when she said you came back again

Momma said that Christmas is what we celebrate

Because on that day you was born.

So I hope I’m not too late, To wish you a Happy Birthday,

Dear Jesus, I”ll be true, cuz momma said if I was good

you’d let me live with you.

She said that you forgave them, cuz you was dying for our sin”