Fischer was institutionalized at age 19 for attacking his mother with a knife. Following his release, Fischer wandered L.A. singing his unique brand of songs for 10¢ to by-passers. Discovered by Frank Zappa, with whom he recorded his first album, Fischer became an underground concert favorite, earning him the title "godfather of outsider music." Zappa was responsible for Fischer's initial foray into the business of music, an album called An Evening with Wild Man Fischer, contains 36 tracks of "something not exactly musical." Frank and the Wild Man remained close--until Fischer threw a beer bottle at baby Moon Unit.
He has collaborated with Linda Ronstadt, Tom Waits, Jim Morrison, and Janis Joplin, and has recorded with Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo.
Fischer went on to record three full-length albums for Rhino. In the 1980s, Fischer worked with Art (Bill Mumy) and Artie Barnes (Robert Haimer), to produce two albums, Pronounced Normal (1981) and Nothing Scary (1984). Fischer has appeared on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and has been the subject of his own comic book The Legend Of Wild Man Fischer. In 1986, Barnes and Barnes also wrote and produced "It's A Hard Business", a duet featuring Fischer singing along with the late Rosemary Clooney. The song was the result of a bizarre telephone friendship that began after Clooney heard Fischer's song "Oh God, Please Send Me A Kid To Love."
I'm a Christmas Tree
Wild Man Fischer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a Christmas Tree
Everybody hangs their ornaments on me!
I'm a Christmas Tree
I'm a Christmas Tree
People throw me out on New Year's Eve!
Oh, Santa Claus!
He breaks lots of laws!
He trespasses!
He breaks and enters!
He travels all around the world without a valid passport!
I'm a Hanukkah Bush!
I'm a Hanukkah Bush!
I got-- I mean,
I'm a lot like...
A Jewish Christmas tree!
But I'm not...
The lyrics to Wild Man Fischer's song "I'm a Christmas Tree" use humor and irony to comment on the commercialization and temporary nature of Christmas. The repeated lines "I'm a Christmas Tree / Everybody hangs their ornaments on me!" and "People throw me out on New Year's Eve!" highlight the way that a living tree is devalued and ultimately discarded after serving its decorative purpose. The inclusion of Santa Claus in the song further underscores the idea of exploitation, as the mythological figure is portrayed as a criminal who breaks laws and disregards rules in order to deliver presents. This contrasts sharply with the idealized image of Santa Claus as a benevolent, law-abiding figure.
The second half of the song introduces the concept of the Hanukkah Bush, which is described as "a lot like a Jewish Christmas tree". This is a playful way of acknowledging the way that different cultures and religions have adapted to the idea of a winter holiday involving decorative trees. By blending the two ideas together, the song highlights the way that holiday traditions are often informed by cultural exchange and adaptation.
Overall, the lyrics to "I'm a Christmas Tree" are not meant to be taken too seriously, but they do provide an interesting commentary on the way that holiday traditions can be both joyous and exploitative.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a Christmas Tree
I am a symbol of Christmas
I'm a Christmas Tree
I am a decoration used during Christmas
Everybody hangs their ornaments on me!
People use me to hang their Christmas decorations
I'm a Christmas Tree
I am a symbol of Christmas
I'm a Christmas Tree
I am a decoration used during Christmas
People throw me out on New Year's Eve!
People discard me right after Christmas celebrations
Oh, Santa Claus!
A reference to Santa Claus, a popular figure during Christmas
Oh, Santa Claus!
A reference to Santa Claus, a popular figure during Christmas
He breaks lots of laws!
An ironic statement suggesting that Santa Claus does things that are technically illegal but still gets away with them
He trespasses!
A suggestion that Santa Claus goes to people's houses uninvited
He breaks and enters!
A suggestion that Santa Claus goes into people's houses without permission
He travels all around the world without a valid passport!
An exaggerated statement that Santa Claus goes everywhere without the proper documentation
I'm a Hanukkah Bush!
An alternate decoration during Hanukkah, a holiday celebrated by Jewish people
I'm a Hanukkah Bush!
An alternate decoration during Hanukkah, a holiday celebrated by Jewish people
I got-- I mean,
An awkward, disorganized statement
I'm a lot like...
A similarity between Hanukkah bush and Christmas tree
A Jewish Christmas tree!
A reference to the fact that Hanukkah and Christmas are both celebrated around the same time of year
But I'm not...
A distinction between Hanukkah bush and Christmas tree
Contributed by Aaron O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.