Everlasting Fruitcake

Of all the holiday traditions that come to mind this time of year, the one that most strikes fear into the hearts of mortal men is... fruitcake. We're not talking about the edible kind that your mother makes. Oh no. This fruitcake is normally store-bought, and comes in a colorful tin with some impossibly cheerful scene on it. The packaging is quite lovely, really, but have you ever tried to lift one of these tins when it's delivered to your front door? (These fruitcakes are the reason that parcel delivery companies have weight limits on what can be shipped.)

Further, have you noticed that fruitcake is usually the last thing to be eaten, if it's eaten at all? This is mostly because all of the better tasting foods have been consumed, and it's the only food remaining.

Like the pyramids, these fruitcakes seem to have been around since the beginning of time. Your family has probably seen its share of them. They just show up year after year.

"Everlasting Fruitcake" is the embodiment of this idea. It has a down home country feel to it, and on the recording we've emphasized the spoken accent for effect. The melody is fairly simple and repetitive, so once your students learn a verse and chorus, they'll know how the whole tune goes. The chorus has an optional second part at the pick-up to measure 22. This part goes up to a D.

The spoken lines should be as comical as your young actors can make them. One good idea might be to have a fruitcake tin passed around as the students sing each verse. Have each student reluctantly take the tin from the previous owner.

At the end of the song, there is a mini skit where a package (the fruitcake) is delivered, so you may want to have a student dress up in your favorite delivery company-type uniform with a clipboard and a pen. Have him knock on an imaginary door, and ask the disbelieving recipient to sign the clipboard. The recipient cries in dismay. If you prefer, a better visual effect might be to have the recipient "faint," maybe having a couple of strong kids there to catch her. Just be sure your actors fit the action into the measures of rest before the tag. Happy holidays!