Tommy Cowan’s ‘Santa song’ even more relevant today

When Tommy Cowan wrote 'Santa Claus (Do You Ever Come To The Ghetto)', it was meant to be more than just a Christmas song.

Tackling social issues that faced the people from Jamaica's inner cities, the track questions why this time of year seems more special for some.

This year, as more persons fall on hard times as a result of COVID-19, questioning the whereabouts of 'Santa Claus', or at least modern-day philanthropists, is that more pertinent.

Tommy Cowan told THE WEEKEND STAR that when he wrote the track, Santa Claus represented more than just the 'man in the red suit' but the glimmer of hope that usually brightens the year for many. He said that glimmer of hope would have been the Christmas treats, the food drives for the homeless, and give-back initiatives that would put smiles on the faces of the less fortunate.

"Definitely this year more than ever, people are feeling hopeless because remember, more people are out of jobs, more people's businesses have been closed down. And although in previous years times were also hard, there was that spirit of give back was still very much alive. This year we couldn't do those things as much as we would have liked.

Offer hope to the people

We can't have the treats, the things that would offer hope to the people at this time of the year," he said. "I don't think people are asking so much where is Santa Claus. What I think they're asking, is where is the hope? A lot of our people have realised that Santa Claus, the man, is not real. But people are checking for hope and when they can't see hope or any representation of it, they tend to lose their way. It makes them hopeless, and hopelessness is quite a thing."

Carlene Davis, Cowan's wife and the song's performer, said that she believes that there are still representations of the joy that 'Santa Claus' brings. "Who represents Santa Claus today? As Tommy said he is not just the man, fat person in a red outfit coming down a chimney. It's those who are able to give back in a real way. And this year, although many are not able to do the giving on the same scale, they're still pushing forward," she said. "I am hearing and seeing for myself where persons are stepping up to ensure that the give back spirit doesn't die. We know with COVID persons have to limit what they can do but Santa Claus is still represented by many who are just turning up for their brothers and sisters in big ways."