Dar Williams is a singer-songwriter who is known for her folk-pop style and thought-provoking lyrics. One of her well-known songs is called "Christians and the Pagans," which explores the themes of different religious beliefs and finding common ground. The song tells the story of a family gathering during the holiday season. The narrator, who is a member of a Christian family, describes the scene as her cousin, who is a Pagan, brings her partner, who is Jewish, to the family celebration. The lyrics paint a picture of a diverse group of people coming together despite their different belief systems. Throughout the song, Williams emphasizes the importance of love and acceptance in bridging the gap between different religious beliefs.

Dar Williams on How “The Christians and the Pagans” Became a Holiday Classic

When Dar Williams first wrote the song “The Christians and the Pagans,” about a solstice-celebrating lesbian couple who visit devout Christian relatives during Yuletide, she intended the folk-pop tune to be a humorous respite from tortured holiday gatherings. “The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch/ Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, ‘Is it true that you’re a witch?’ ” Filled with similarly wry lines, the song, an audience favorite since Williams recorded it on her 1996 album Mortal City, nevertheless evokes rumination on fractured families and societal ills in listeners, some of whom drill deeply into the psychology of the lyrics. The acoustic-based singer, who will perform the song at her annual concert, “Christians, Pagans and Other Hipsters,” Dec. 26 at the Bell House in Brooklyn, remembers one such devotee, a high-school boy, who came backstage after a concert. He had just attended a rally in response to a gay bashing and said he was deeply moved by the reference to a lesbian couple in the song. “To hear this song today, I just can’t stop crying,” Williams recalled him saying.

Nowadays, with queer anthems topping the pop charts, it may be difficult to understand the deep emotion behind that response. Williams, 48, has lived through that evolution, having been a pioneer of sorts at writing lyrics that countered entrenched notions of gender and sexuality. “A lot of my career success came because I was in communities where people were ahead of the curve with gender exploration,” said Williams, who toured tiny coffeehouses while attending Wesleyan University in the mid-’80s. She later lived in Northampton, Massachusetts, a liberal enclave, which, like many such neighborhoods of the time, did its share of questioning societal roles. “Northampton, where the women are strong and the men are defensive,” she used to joke.

Williams, who released Emerald, her ninth CD, in May 2015, “came out as straight” more than a decade into her career, having been assumed by many fans—perhaps with some wish fulfillment involved—to be a lesbian. Her relationship songs have typically avoided gender pronouns, and she has regularly performed with the likes of Ani DiFranco and the Indigo Girls.

Her song “When I Was a Boy” has evolved into a trans anthem of sorts, with lines such as, “I was a kid that you would like/ Just a small boy on her bike/ Riding topless, yeah/ I never cared who saw.” Williams concedes that those lyrics were originally inspired by self-proclaimed misunderstood straight men she met in college. “I found myself in many conversations with guys, often in a bar, when they would say, ‘I’m not like other men.’ I just saw a loneliness there that I wanted to write about.” Of the trans women and men who see themselves in the song, Williams says, “There was a lot of permission in that song that people took and that I hadn’t even intended, which is fabulous.”

“Hang on.” Williams suddenly interrupts our phone conversation to answer her 6-year-old daughter, Taya, burbling in the background. “That’s a mango, honey. You don’t want a mango? OK, you can have yogurt.”

For those of us in Williams’ generation who grew up eating condensed soup and macaroni and cheese, this bit of conversation only reinforces her famous championing of all things healthy and green. A longtime environmentalist who co-authored a book called The Tofu Tollbooth, Williams also works with kids in summer camps to plant bee-friendly gardens. The cover of End of the Summer, her 1997 CD, features a photo of Williams literally in the woods, her arms caked in mud. It doesn’t get much more earthy.

Williams is currently at work on a book about the many communities she’s visited while touring across the country. She cites conservative tycoon Roger Ailes, a fellow resident of Garrison, New York, as something of an unlikely inspiration. “He coined the political phrase ‘red state/blue state’—the idea of division and a constant unproductive clashing,” said Williams, whose travels made her take note of the productivity of small-town politics. “There’s the narrative that people in American towns don’t get along—that local politics are so messy and horrible. Well, they are kind of messy and horrible,” she said, “But they’re incredibly successful, too.” It makes perfect sense that Williams, who has dedicated much of her career to rumination on identity politics, would now turn to a book focusing more outwardly on community. “We’re in a post-Aquarian world. We’re skeptical about love and harmony as the guiding principles of community building,” she said of the Gen X generation. Members of that generation will be at her concert on Saturday, likely hoping for a break from the holiday glare. “We usually have the show a couple days after Christmas, when you’ve either survived Christmas or the fact that you don’t celebrate Christmas. It’s a huge exhale,” she said.

Dar williams christian and the pagans

Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday.
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay."
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with red dye number three
He told his niece, "It's Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style."
She said "Christmas is like Solstice and we miss you and it's been a while."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
And just before the meal was served hands were held and prayers were said
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch
'till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a witch?"
His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning," and she hit the kitchen
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "It's true your cousin's not a Christian,
But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share
And you find magic from your God and we find magic everywhere."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
Where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning
'cause now when Christians sit with Pagans, only pumpkin pies are burning

When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother"
Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father
He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year
He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas and your daughter's here"
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve
Saying "Can I be a pagan?" Dad said "We'll discuss it when they leave."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold

Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday. Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay." And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree He watched his son hang candy canes all made with red dye number three He told his niece, "It's Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style." She said "Christmas is like Solstice and we miss you and it's been a while." So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able And just before the meal was served hands were held and prayers were said Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch 'till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a witch?" His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning," and she hit the kitchen And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "It's true your cousin's not a Christian, But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share And you find magic from your God and we find magic everywhere." So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able Where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning 'cause now when Christians sit with Pagans, only pumpkin pies are burning When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother" Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas and your daughter's here" He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve Saying "Can I be a pagan?" Dad said "We'll discuss it when they leave." So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old and Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold

The Meaning Behind The Song: Christians and Pagans by Dar Williams

Throughout the song, Williams emphasizes the importance of love and acceptance in bridging the gap between different religious beliefs. She highlights how the family members, despite their contrasting views, are able to set their differences aside and find unity in their shared values and love for one another. The lyrics of "Christians and the Pagans" highlight the theme of tolerance and understanding.

The Meaning Behind The Song: Christians and Pagans by Dar Williams

The song “Christians and Pagans” by Dar Williams is a thought-provoking and impactful piece that delves into the themes of religious diversity, tolerance, and the celebration of differences. With its catchy melody and powerful lyrics, the song offers a profound exploration of the complexities and commonalities within various belief systems.

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In this song, Dar Williams tells a story of a family gathering during the holiday season, where people from different religious backgrounds come together. The lyrics shed light on the challenges and tensions that can arise when individuals with different beliefs navigate their way through conversations and interactions. However, the song also emphasizes the potential for these differences to be bridges to understanding and acceptance.

Williams tackles the idea that religious beliefs should not divide people but rather serve as an opportunity for growth and learning from one another. In conclusion, Dar Williams' song "Christians and the Pagans" serves as a reminder of the importance of accepting and embracing religious diversity. By highlighting a family gathering where individuals from different religious backgrounds are able to come together, Williams showcases the power of love and understanding in transcending religious differences. The song encourages listeners to embrace diversity and find common ground with people who have different beliefs..

Reviews for "Finding Spirituality in Music: Dar Williams Reflects on Christian and Pagan Influences"

1. Rachel - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Dar Williams Christian and the Pagans." I had heard great things about Dar Williams' music, so I was excited to give this album a listen. However, I found the songs to be uninspiring and lackluster. The lyrics felt forced and the melodies were forgettable. Overall, I just didn't connect with the music and couldn't find any songs that stood out to me. I'll be giving her other albums a try, but this one definitely missed the mark for me.

2. Mark - 2/5 stars - As a fan of Dar Williams, I was excited to explore her discography and stumbled upon "Christian and the Pagans." Unfortunately, this album didn't live up to my expectations. The songs lacked depth and felt repetitive, like I've heard them a hundred times before. The overall production also left much to be desired, with a lack of musical variety or experimentation. It's a shame because I know Dar Williams is capable of so much more. I'd recommend checking out her other albums before giving this one a listen.

3. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I found "Dar Williams Christian and the Pagans" to be incredibly disappointing and unoriginal. The songs lacked originality and felt like generic folk tunes that didn't offer anything new or exciting. The lyrics were cheesy and uninspired, failing to resonate with me emotionally. Overall, I found the album to be forgettable and would not recommend it to anyone seeking unique and captivating music.

4. Alex - 2/5 stars - "Christian and the Pagans" by Dar Williams didn't impress me at all. The songs were bland and lacked any real depth or meaning. The album felt like a missed opportunity to explore interesting themes and showcase Dar Williams' talent. Some tracks even felt forced and contrived, leaving me unsatisfied as a listener. Overall, I wouldn't consider this album a highlight of Dar Williams' discography and wouldn't recommend it to others who are looking for compelling and thought-provoking music.

5. Jessica - 2/5 stars - "Dar Williams Christian and the Pagans" left me feeling underwhelmed. The songs lacked a clear direction and failed to grab my attention. The album consisted of forgettable tracks that didn't leave a lasting impression. Additionally, the production felt lackluster and didn't enhance the listening experience. Overall, I found this album to be mediocre and would suggest exploring other works by Dar Williams for a more fulfilling musical experience.

Embracing the Divine: Dar Williams' Perspective on the Connection Between Christianity and Paganism