On the other hand, Santa has often been seen as resistant to the system.
Arlo Guthrie–many moons ago–interrupted his poignant melodic question of ‘why do these guys beat on us guys?’ to ask about the similarities between Papa Noel and the counter culture. Reminisce with “The Pause of Mr. Claus.”
Old twangy country from Linda Cassady asks “Is Santa Claus a Hippie?” out of childish insouciance. She would still love him though (even though the definitive answer is No).
Caleb Hawley modernizes his country to folk-blues-rock with his “Santa’s Just a Hippie with a Beard.” This may be a case of mistaken identity–it might just be some high drunk. Check out the jazzy scat on that scruffy singer.
The Bellamy Brothers followed up their ‘hit’ ‘Old Hippie’ with a sequel or two, one being a holiday recycling “Old Hippie Christmas.” This is more a state of mind which only mentions North Pole’s Fatso, but it’s a pleasant guitar-ination.
The cool song all the kids would have been listening back then would have been “Happy, Hairy, Hippie Santa Claus” by Rocki Lane and the Gross Group. This is a goof on the groove of the time, cashing in on counter culture like Laugh-In did.
The last word on the topic comes from America’s beloved hillbillies Homer and Jethro with the exact same syllogism: 1968’s “Santa Claus the Original Hippie.”
