Day 7 - Boxing Day

 Day 7 - Boxing Day


Boxing Day - play song on Bandcamp

I set off for a post-Christmas walk one day through the streets of London where I lived at the time. It saddened me to see so many discarded Christmas trees, cards, wrapping paper, tinsel all littering the area so soon after the big day. So many weeks and months of pre-Christmas frenzy, thought, attention to detail (possibly) and excitement only to be, in essence, yesterday's news!

We move on so quickly these days, no time to stop and take in where we are. As the joke goes, they'll soon be selling Easter Eggs in Tesco's.

The middle eight, with the regret of an ex kissing another under the mistletoe doesn't really fit with the song's narrative, but I was stuck for an idea, and the 'are you happy now?' motif seemed to fit the same sentiment, so I went with it. Sometimes you just need a cliche and a rhyme to fill the gaps!

If there is a metaphor wrapped up in this one (there wasn't one intentionally, but like any student searching for meaning in a poem I'll come up with it after the event) then it's the idea that Christmas is over, and has been discarded as quickly as the relationship.

Happy now?

'Boxing Day' by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize
Written, recorded, performed, produced by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize
(c) Richard Longley 2025

lyrics

The saddest sight on Boxing Day
Look outside
The Christmas card you threw away
Look outside

All the people want to say
Are you happy now
All the children want to sing
Are you happy now

And I
I was only crying
That night
I was only dying, inside

The saddest sight on New Year’s Day
Look outside
The Christmas tree you left to die
Look outside

All the people want to say
Are you happy now
All the children want to sing
Are you happy now

And I
I was only crying
That night
I was only dying, inside

I’ve had enough of snow
I’ve had enough of the mistletoe that he kissed you under
Your heart belongs to that boy wonder now

All the people want to say
Are you happy now
All the children want to sing
Are you happy now

And I
I was only crying
That night
I was only dying, inside

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