The Duck Dynasty family’s new Christmas album, “Duck the Halls,” is winning attention not just because it is the No. 5 top seller on Amazon’s music charts, beating Barbra Streisand, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, but because it lends a sympathetic shoulder to families of soldiers on long deployments to Afghanistan and other outposts.
Mixed in with the funny songs about Rednecks and beards, the “Robertson Family Christmas” album also includes one titled “Camouflage and Christmas Lights,” sung by Reed Robertson, son of Duck Dynasty stars Jase and Missy Robertson. Referring to a soldier long deployed overseas, Reed Robertson sings, “I don’t think Jesus meant for it to be like this.”
On blogs Robertson is winning kudos for his singing, and the family is getting thanks for remembering the troops.
It’s a tweaked version of the song popularized by comic and country singer Rodney Carrington four years ago. Robertson’s version was written by Michael Logen and Andrew Dorff.
It is Amazon’s No. 2 in the vocal pop category and ranks fifth in the all-important top 100 category.
Another year has come and gone
And he’s still there holding on
To his rifle and a picture of his kids
Saying it’s a holiday
But it sure don’t feel that way
I don’t think Jesus meant for it to be like this
Chorus:
A paper star on a plastic tree
Cotton snow in a manger scene
He’ll do the best he can to make it feel like home
Turkey dinner on paper plates
Sergeant bows his head to pray
Boombox playin’, Silent Night’
Camouflage and Christmas lights
His family’s up on the hill by now
Bundled up and sleddin’ down
Catching snowflakes on the edge of their tongues
Standin’ up at the top would be
The prettiest girl he’s ever seen
Whispering a quiet prayer for everyone
Chorus
Some say he’s a hero
But he’s just a dad
Who’s tryin’ to protect the most precious thing he has
Someday he’ll be home again
His world will be right
But for tonight
Chorus
Thank God it’s a silent night
Camouflage and Christmas lights
Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
