There are a lot of Christmas characters and tropes that have gotten their own carole: Santa, snowmen, reindeer, snowflakes, candy, wishes, kisses, love... but one popular part of the Kris Kringle tale has been left out of the equation... until last night (Dec. 1), that is. For the ninth year in a row, rock band The Killers released its annual Christmas single on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night, and finally gave that fateful lump of coal a theme song. Enter in, "Joel, The Lump of Coal."
With the help of Jimmy Kimmel, The Killers wrote and recorded the Christmas single, all while wearing some highly festive sweaters. After dismissing ideas about "the players gonna play, play, play" and a grandma that gets run over by a fat family on Black Friday, Brandon Flowers and co. landed on the idea of giving the lump of coal that goes to naughty kids a voice, after all these years.
The result is "Joel, The Lump of Coal," a fable of a lump of coal that just "wants to keep Santa warm and the elves cozy." He's excited beyond belief when he finds out he'll go to one "lucky girl or boy" on Christmas Day, until the elves and other toys give him the real dish.
"You're in for a surprise / You're not a special Christmas gift / You're just a booby prize / What kid would ever want you? You're filthy as can be / Now you have to go and live with one who's been naughty," Flowers sings as the mean, mean detractors for Joel.
But, the song has a heartwarming ending... Joel teaches his naughty boy a lesson and turns into a shiny, stunning Christmas diamond.
Merry Christmas to all.
Watch "Joel, The Lump of Coal" below. Proceeds from the sale of the song go to (RED).
