the deepening ground

What if John, Paul, George, and Ringo provided the soundtrack for a musical revival of Charles Dickens’s immortal A Christmas Carol? Thanks to The Muppets, we already have at least one spectacular musical version of Dickens’s classic, and I’ve even seen one staged in Pittsburgh. But as I wrapped up our study of the novella in British Literature just before Christmas Break, inspiration hit!

Being that I’m simply a rock star masquerading as a public school teacher, I have been putting literature to music from my earliest days as a student teacher as a way to “live my dream” and engage my students. In fact, in the new year I intend to start a new page on this site dedicated solely to my “Lit Rock” parodies. Here, then, is my first offering to the deepening ground, an imagining of The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” as “Hey Scrooge,” possibly sung as the end credits roll after Tiny Tim’s “God bless Us! Every One!” I’m sure Paul McCartney would approve. (Hey, he’s British, right?)

Hey Scrooge

Vincent H. Anastasi - 2021 (The Beatles & Charles Dickens)

Hey Scrooge, don't make it bad
take "Bah humbug!" and make it better
remember to let light into your heart
then you can start to make it better

Hey Scrooge, don't be afraid
though your past was lonely and bitter
the minute you see Belle and all her kin
then you'll begin to see things better

And anytime you feel the need, hey Scrooge, the greed
don't carry that weight upon your shoulders
for well you know that you're a fool to be so cruel
by making your world a little colder
Da da da da da da da da da

Hey Scrooge, don't let Bob down
you have seen love, now go and give some
remember to let Fred into your heart
then you can start to make it better

So let greed out and let love in, hey Scrooge, begin
stop waiting for spirits to reform ya
For don't you know that it's just true, hey Scrooge, you'll do
the power of one is on your shoulders
Da da da da da da da da da

Hey Scrooge, don't be so blind
that that gravestone and live life better
remember the spirit world you were in
then you'll begin to make it better
better, better, better, better, better, ahhhh

Na na na na na na na na na na na, hey Scrooge...

Recorded using an iPhone SE and GarageBand