These are the dark days. The dark, cold, short days that are followed by long, darker, colder nights. In days like these, hope is as meager as the sunlight and as fleeting as every other type of warmth. These are the days we huddle together with those we love, or with strangers, and tell each other, and ourselves that better days are coming.
We need to believe that someday we will be walking together in the bright light of a better world. We tell ourselves that rampaging diseases, violence, anger, and hatred can be overcome by our collective spirit and, in defiance of nature’s cold darkness, we might yet see the light of goodwill toward each other.
Each year at this time, those of us who are still able to hope, think to ourselves that maybe this is the year the words “Peace on Earth” mean something tangible to enough people that real change is possible. One year will be the year it happens, when the people of the world let their love overcome their fear and see every other person on Earth as their family. As their blood.
Like Stevie Wonder says, “Maybe not in time for you and me,” but looking at the progress we have made in the last few generations – especially when you realize there are people alive today whose grandparents were slaves – I think we might be only two or three generations away from that most sacred Christmas: the one where “Peace on Earth” becomes reality.
Someday at Christmas men won't be boys Playing with bombs like kids play with toys One warm December our hearts will see A world where men are free Someday at Christmas there'll be no wars When we have learned what Christmas is for When we have found what life's really worth There'll be peace on earth Someday all our dreams will come to be Someday in a world where men are free Maybe not in time for you and me But someday at Christmastime Someday at Christmas we'll see a land With no hungry children, no empty hand One happy morning people will share Our world where people care Someday at Christmas there'll be no tears When all men are equal and no man has fears One shinning moment one prayer away From our world today Someday all our dreams will come to be Someday in a world where men are free Maybe not in time for you and me But someday at Christmastime Someday at Christmas man will not fail Hate will be gone and love will prevail Someday a new world that we can start With hope in every heart
Words & Music by Mike Power 