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www.audio-technica.com - Audio-Technica has launched an online search for the most entertaining alternative Christmas tune. All entries will receive a free pair of headphones and the lucky winner will receive £500 of Audio-Technica equipment. Visit us at www.audio-technica.com/competitions to find out how to enter.

Profile: Roger Kaye

I am not a professional musician but a person writes songs and musicals as a hobby. I have been writing songs for 50 years. I wrote my first song when I was 13 and I am now 63.

I have a small studio, in a cabin in my garden, and although I have a very busy professional life, training people who work in challenging environments, I love to spend time creating and making music.

I wrote the song submitted for the competition after being asked to write something which looks at the Christmas story from a slightly different angle. I have focused on the issues which Joseph might have had to face as the fiancé of a girl who was pregnant with someone else's baby, in a period in history when such things were held in contempt by society. Although in a modern context, the song mirrors the biblical story. The words of the song are shown below:

Hey Joe Did You Know?

Hey Joe did you know that your girlfriend's gonna have a baby
Which is right out of line for the time and the place you're in?
Hey Joe did you know that she'll never ever be a lady?
Make a move from the groove or you're gonna be living in sin

Hey Joe did you know if there's gonna be a shotgun wedding?
An event in a tent that's followed by a quick divorce
Hey Joe do you know the thing you must be really dreading
Is the shame on the name of your family of course?

Who's this Angel of the Lord?
Can you trust him at his word?
It seems such a mystery
But are you making history?
Is this what prophets did foretell?
Is this Immanuel?

Hey Joe did you know that your girlfriend took a long vacation?
Went to stay far away with a cousin in another town
Hey Joe did you know in this very tricky situation
Keeps her right out of sight from the light till things calm down?

Hey Joe did you know if your girlfriend really was a virgin?
It's naïve to believe she'd conceive all by herself
Hey Joe did you know there's another thing that's emerging
The name in the frame who's to blame is a someone else?

If what you say is really true
You'll soon be making headline news
A Holy Spirit pregnancy
Will be a first in Galilee
Is this what prophets did foretell?
Is this Immanuel?

Hey Joe did you know in a few weeks time there's a census?
With a wife by your side you must ride out to Bethlehem
Hey Joe did you know that accommodation is horrendous?
Could be real hard for you with a baby that's due about then

Hey Joe did you know that some people think you're really crazy?
When the theme of your dream was a scene when an angel came
Hey Joe did you know that some others think you're really shady?
Is it true can you prove everything that you've ever claimed?

Your girlfriend's cousin pregnant too
But she is married unlike you
And something else that's very strange
She is beyond child bearing age
Is this what prophets did foretell?
Is this Immanuel?