Toronto's Metro Morning asked candidates to sing their own campaign carols. Here are few of those offerings.
Peter Kent, running for the Conservatives in St. Paul's (Runs 1:01)
Carolyn Bennett, running for the Liberals in St. Paul's (Runs 1:19)
Pauline Browse is the Conservative candidate in Scarborough-Guildwood (Runs 0:33)
Peter Coy is the Conservative hopeful in Eglinton-Lawrence (Runs 0:43)
Anne Bish, wife of the NDP candidate in Toronto Centre, Michael Shapcott (Runs 0:58)
John Godfrey is the liberal candidate in Don Valley West (Runs 0:46)
Bruce Rogers is the NDP candidate in Durham (Runs 0:40)
Well, it's that time of year again, time to stick things on our lawns and decide who's been naughty and who's been nice. And, of course, who will be rewarded. Naturally, we're talking about that wonderful annual event called election time. This precious time is fleeting, and really deserves to be celebrated. So, we're asking you to come up with a special song, a "carol" let's say, to honour it. Give us something based on that famous song for that other time of year, "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Send it in by email, and feel free to include an MP3 version of your tune. We've included a sample to give you an idea of what we're looking for.
The Twelve Days of Campaigning
On the twelfth day of campaigning, democracy gave to me…
Twelve … beers and popcorn
Eleven… billion promised
Ten… frozen provinces
Nine… blathering bloggers
Eight… pundits puzzling
Seven… spinners spinning
Six… scandals sizzling
Five … per cent GST
Four … live debates
Three … day-care photo ops
Two … tiered health care
… and a politician in a bare tree.
E-mail us at canadavotes@cbc.ca to send your answer or suggest another topic for discussion.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…
Twelve months of humming
Eleven Tories' stories
Ten teas a-steeping
Nine Liberals prancing
Eight NDPs pickling
Seven Bloc-heads brimming
Six goats displaying
Five token things
Four hopeful leaders
Three French friends
Two official tongues
A Grit, a Bloc and a Tory (and NDP)
- Janice Martin, Sudbury, Ont.
My roommate and I updated this song daily for the first 12 days of the campaign, and sent it out to our friends and family. We thought we were being very original. But it really seems that this has caught on like wildfire.
The twelve days of campaigning
On the first day campaigning, Stephen Harper said to me
Mob bosses in the Liberal family
On the second day campaigning, Stephen Harper said to me
Two men should not marry
And mob bosses in the Liberal family
On the third day campaigning, Gilles Duceppe said to me
Go Team Quebec
Two men should not marry
And mob bosses in the Liberal family
On the fourth day campaigning, Stephen Harper said to me
All tax is bad
Go Team Quebec
Two men should not marry
And mob bosses in the Liberal family
On the fifth day campaigning, Stephen Harper said to me
Shame, shame, shame, shame!
All tax is bad
Go Team Quebec
Two men should not marry
And mob bosses in the Liberal family
On the sixth day campaigning, Stephen Harper said to me
Drugs in our churches
Shame, shame, shame, shame!
All tax is bad
Go Team Quebec
Two men should not marry
And mob bosses in the Liberal family
On the seventh day campaigning, Jack Layton said to me
Gotta have private clinics
Drugs in our churches
Shame, shame, shame, shame!
All tax is bad
Go Team Quebec
Two men should not marry
And mob bosses in the Liberal family
On the eighth day campaigning, Gilles Duceppe said to me
I'll wipe out the Liberals
Gotta have private clinics
Drugs in our churches
Shame, shame, shame, shame!
All tax is bad
Go Team Quebec
Two men should not marry
And mob bosses in the Liberal family
On the ninth day campaigning, Paul Martin said to me
Harper not a demon
I'll wipe out the Liberals
Gotta have private clinics
Drugs in our churches
Shame, shame, shame, shame!
All tax is bad
Go Team Quebec
Two men should not marry
And mob bosses in the Liberal family
On the tenth day campaigning, Stephen Harper said to me
Lord leaping for Harper
Harper not a demon
I'll wipe out the Liberals
Gotta have private clinics
Drugs in our churches
Shame, shame, shame, shame!
All tax is bad
Go Team Quebec
Two men should not marry
And mob bosses in the Liberal family
On the eleventh day campaigning, Paul Martin said to me
Gun ban nothing new
Lord leaping for Harper
Harper not a demon
I'll wipe out the Liberals
Gotta have private clinics
Drugs in our churches
Shame, shame, shame, shame!
All tax is bad
Go Team Quebec
Two men should not marry
And mob bosses in the Liberal family
On the twelfth day campaigning, Stephen Harper said to me
Play sports boys and girls
Gun ban nothing new
Lord leaping for Harper
Harper not a demon
I'll wipe out the Liberals
Gotta have private clinics
Drugs in our churches
Shame, shame, shame, shame!
All tax is bad
Go Team Quebec
Two men should not marry
And mob bosses in the Liberal family
- Andy Friedman
On the twelfth day of Christmas, Paul Martin gave to me…
Twelve… hospital closures
Eleven… cents for seniors
Ten… falling helicopters
Nine… election promises
Eight… accusations
Seven… lame excuses
Six… no hip replacements
Five… homes for natives
Four… years of cutbacks
Three… old submarines
Two… corporate tax breaks
… and an election in January.
- Cheera Crow, Victoria, B.C.
Another year with the Liberals, and this is what I saw…
Twelve… Liberals caught stealing
Eleven… druggies legally dealing
Ten… gay couples legally wedded
Nine… 14-year-olds legally bedded
Eight… child porn booming
Seven… terrorists still looming
Six… lies still going on
Five… more morals GONE
Four… anti-Americanism growing
Three… Canadians still groaning
Two… provinces wanting out
… and a country living in a moral drought.
- C & M Bixby
On the first day of Christmas, Paul Martin gave to me
An election, Conservatives and the NDP
On the second day of Christmas , Jack Layton gave to me
Promises of more housing
More day care
…But what about me?
On the third day of Christmas, Stephen Harper sent to me…
Three hens a layin'
More debates
More popcorn and beer
A campaign without disability issues mentioned
An election in the makin'
No presents for the disabled
No mention of funding for the disabled
…but an election in a pear tree!
On the fourth day of Christmas, the candidates had a debate…
More beer and popcorn
More chit chat of "we will do this"
… and promises that may never be.
On the fifth day of Christmas, the Bloc said to me…
Quebec should separate, we will still have a great Canada
Still have an election and debate
No news for the disabled, an issue that doesn't count
…but there is lots of beer and popcorn, lots of promises, and whatever will be will be!
- Patricia Duck, Toronto
A few of our visitors decided to break out of the "Twelve Days of Christmas" format and strike out on their own. Here are some of those contributions:The Campaign Song
(Parody of The Christmas Song Mel Torme)
Guess who greets you on an orange flyer
Jack Layton smiling 'cause he knows
That this time 'round his seat count will be higher
Than the 19 he received with the last vote
Everybody knows how Gomery and his skilled approach
Helped to bring the truth to light
Voters' thoughts of the lies they've been told
Will help to them see New Democrats were right
They know an election's on its way
And the incumbent Liberal party has to pay
But every senior minister will try
To see how many votes their promises can buy
Make sure to remember through the holidays
When the decision finally comes to rest with you
Anything that they've said, that you've heard or you've read doesn't matter
When you're in the voting booth
- Sandy McLachlan, Comox, BC The Little Conservative Boy!
Ohhhhh non-confidence, dumb dumb da dumb dummmmb
Billions wasted, dumb dumb da dumb dummmmb
Could have waited, dumb dumb da dumb dummmmb.
Feeling jaded, dumb dumb da dumb dumb, dumb da dumb dumb, dumb da dumb dummmmmmmmb
Shall we pay for you, dumb dumb da dumb dummmmb, til we're numb!
Lego hair-man, dumb dumb da dumb dummmmb,
You'll never be P.M., dumb dumb da dumb dummmmb
You have no place in pow'r, dumb dumb da dumb dummmmb
This is your final hour, dumb dumb da dumb dumb, dumb da dumb dumb, dumb da dumb dummmmmmmmb
So to oust you now, dumb dumb da dumb dumb, When we come.
- Terry Prior, Peterborough, Ont. To the tune of We Three Kings (obviously!)
We four kings of Canada will
Guarantee a new health-care bill!
While you're dying, we'll be lying!
Vote for us as you will!
O Canada your citizens
Fail to use their common sense -
Raise your glasses, kick our a**es
Over the proverbial fence!
We four kings of Canada shirk
Anything resembling work!
That's for others – Hey! Why bother? –
Give it all to your clerk!
O Canada we'll rob you blind
Tax the pants off your behind!
While you're suffering, we'll do nothing –
We're certain you won't mind!
- Rick Williams (tongue firmly planted in cheek!)
Notwithstanding The Holidays
(To the tune of I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus)
Notwithstanding it is a clause
That Harper keeps denying from the right
He doesn't even think,
That his party's gonna sink.
Tax cuts mean fewer services, at least we'll have a drink?
Greens, please stop, you should take a pause
Your policies are lacking any sense
But you know, you have one thing
During the debate you will not sing
Winning a seat is the only defence
I saw Martin taking up a cause
Childcare is his dream since ninety three!
The red book it did say,
Help for those who couldn't pay!
Twelve years of broken promises let's set the Liberals free
Then there's Layton with his land of Oz
For people, he intends to crush the right!
A test we have not seen
Maybe we should vote and see
More NDP seats on election night,
More NDP seats on election night!!!
- Scott Gillard, Sydney, NS
To the tune of We Three (five?) Kings (what else?)
We the cream of Parliament are
Platforms and gifts, we've fetched them so far
Personal, regional, international
Now we're on Wilkins's radar
Oh oh
Seat of power
Seat of might
Seat of royal decreed right
Which party's leading?
Who's succeeding?
Hope the voters see the light
Back at home our strategists fight
Trying to play the media right
Missing lawn signs
Polls in decline
Canvassers with frostbite
Oh oh
Seat of power
Seat of might
Seat of royal decreed right
Which party's leading?
Who's succeeding?
Hope the voters see the light
(fading)
Hope the voters get it right
(louder, big finish)
Vote for me I'll change your life!
- Brian Dondo, Winnipeg Manitoba
Ding Wall Merrily on High (to the tune of Ding Dong Merrily on High)
Ding Wall merrily on high
Hooray for gums and pizza
Ding Wall merrily on high
Hooray for beer and popcorn
Ding Wall merrily on high
Hooray for sponsor money
Ding Wall merrily on high
Too bad it's for Grits only.
- A. Bantug, Nepean, Ont.
Silent Night, Election Night (to the tune of Silent Night)
Silent night, election night
All is done, all is right
Round yon voter, mother or child
Holy ballot so cherished and wild
Sweep in electoral bliss
Sweep in electoral bliss
O Come All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, voters and our workers
Come ye, o come ye to polling stations
Come and behold him, born the king of Ottawa
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him, our Pee Emmmmmm.
- Nola Crew, Toronto, Ont.
O Come all ye gullible (to the tune of O Come, All Ye Faithful)
O come all ye gullible, hope for a strong Parliament
O come ye, O come ye to ballot mayhem
Completely old whims, adorned with talk of changes
Come now, let us ignore them
Come now, let us ignore them
Come now, let us ignore them
Christ, what a bore.
Notwithstanding Clause is Coming to Town (to the tune of Santa Claus is Coming to Town)
You better not have, a wife that's a man
A husband who's gay, if Harper's PM
Notwithstanding Clause is coming to town
He's taking a risk
He wants to vote twice
He's gonna find out
He got bad advice
Notwithstanding Clause is coming to town
He thinks that gays are sinning
He knows what is God's take
He thinks the charter's not so good
So he'd burn it at the stake
Oooh…
You better not have, a wife that's a man
A husband who's gay, if Harper's PM
Notwithstanding Clause is coming to town
Notwithstanding Clause is coming to town.
- Youri Cormier, Kingston, Ont.
On the 12th day of campaigning, PAUL MARTIN gave to me:
Twelve… appalling apologies
Eleven… lying liberals
Ten… patronage practices
Nine… missing millions
Eight… ums, uhs, and urrs
Seven… shocking scandals
Six… vague verifications
Five… plunging polls
Four… questionable kickbacks
Three… popcorn promises
Two… thumbs down
and another Liberal minority despite it all
On the 12th day of campaigning, STEPHEN HARPER gave to me:
Twelve… good-byes to gun registry
Eleven… funds for families
Ten… partnership with provinces
Nine… choices for childcare
Eight… treatment wait times
Seven… chances for change
Six… titillating tax promises
Five… watchdogs for whistleblowers
Four… services for seniors
Three… transit tax credits
Two… accountability acts
and a snowball's chance in heck of getting a majority
- A. Abbott, Chatham, Ontario
On the twelfth day of campaigning, the media gave to me.
Twelve… reporters grumbling
Eleven… anchors rambling
Ten… vacuous news releases
Nine… phone-in hosts a' ranting
Eight… hours debating
Seven… annoying attack ads
Six…minute news cycles
Five… pinhead pundits
Four… gaffs and stumbles
Three… partisan spinners
Two… national Tory papers
…. and Newman's braaaawd-cast for all of us to see.
- John McKay
The 12 Days of Conniving
On the twelfth day of connving, the candidates gave to me:
Twelve... platform points
Eleven... ballot boxes
Ten... tax reductions
Nine... raging rumours
Eight... info leaflets
Seven... campaign rallies
Six... mindless mumblers
Five... attack ads
Four... public polls
Three... angry men
Two... front-runners
...and a PM in a new minority!
- Jessica Spina, Victoria. BC
On the twelfth day of Christmas, the Fiberals gave to me…
Twelve… reasons Canadians should throw them all out
Eleven… more pleas for forgiveness
Ten… excuses why they screwed it up
Nine… pleas for forgiveness
Eight… members who were crooked
Seven… things I might believe
Six… broken promises
Five… more years of selfish entitlement
Four… more years of ripoffs
Three… some money they had taken
Two… promises they won't keep
… and a fib in a little red book.
- Brian Biebrich. Winnipeg
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