So, I just posted this on Facebook (MySpace, you know you're less popular, don't even pretend) but then realized it's far more appropriate as a blog.  So, le voila.  Ideally, the two versions of the song would be side by side, but I'd like to think the very devoted blog reader would open a new window with the Go West MySpace page and simply listen along.  Because I know how much you care.

Merry Christmas to all, especially to my nonChristian friends: you know I love you best.   ~nik
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Some history: when I was little, my sister and I used to sing along to Go West's awesomely 80s song "King of Wishful Thinking", mishearing "Wishful Thinking" as "Ishcombinky", the mythical land of the unicorns of which this lovelorn singer was king. So the song has always had some cute significance in the family history. It popped back into my head during a righteous karaoke session in LA, and inspired me to make my mom a mix CD of all the tunes we rocked to on the way to ballet class and so forth. Of course, "King of Wishful Thinking" got the honors of Track 1.

So as we left the candlelight service of the Old Dutch Church this Christmas Eve, Go West is the first thing to start playing. Mom turns it off (of course, it's no Christmas carol), but not before my smartass self got inspired to make up a theme-appropriate parody of the song for the season, with which I tortured my family on the way home. It flowed so naturally I came home and wrote it all down. Now my sister can't hear the song without thinking of stigmata ("they put two holes in my hands!")

End conclusion: what the fuck is wrong with me?

Here's what I wrote, followed by the OG, so you can marvel at my precise use of rhyme scheme. It gets repetitive, but I was thorough for accuracy. Comp Lit nerdom will never die.
Merry Christmas, yall!!

The Pharisees refuse to believe
that in heaven I'll sit on the throne
but they will see I am risen indeed
when they roll away the stone
Since my gospel is the talk of the town
Judas will want to kill himself.

I will save the Jews… I know I will
ow, my crown of thorns is bleeding
and I've said myself "I'll die for you"
'cause I'm the king of your salvation
I am the king of your salvation

I refuse to give in to my blues
in the garden of Gethsemane.
Peter denied belief in me thrice
because of the prophesy (woah)
And now they've pierced two holes in my hands
and I have got to tell myself

I will save the Jews… I know I will
Even when my God forsakes me
And I've said myself, "I'll die for you"
I am the king of your salvation

I will save the Jews… I know I will
A descent to Hell won't beat me
I've said myself, I'll die for you
I am the king of your salvation

I will always shed my blood for you
I will save the Jews

Since my gospel is the talk of my town
Judas will want to kill himself

I will save the Jews… I know I will
Yo, this crown of thorns is bleeding
and I've said myself "I'll die for you"
'cause I'm the king of your salvation
I am the king of your salvation
I will save the Jews… I know I will
They put two holes in my hands
And I'll shed my blood for you
I'll be the king of your salvation
I will save the Jews
I will have a Second Coming
'cause I've got a new birth for you
I'm the king of your salvation..
I will save the Jews .. I know I will
They pierced a hole in my side
I have said myself, "I'll die for you"
'cause I'm the king of your salvation.

~~
King of Wishful Thinking

I don't need to fall at your feet
Just 'cause you cut me to the bone
And I won't miss the way that you kiss me
We were never carved in stone
If I don't listen to the talk of the town
Then maybe I can fool myself..

I'll get over you.. I know I will
I'll pretend my ship's not sinking
And I'll tell myself I'm over you
'cause I'm the king of wishful thinking
I am the king of wishful thinking

I refuse to give in to my blues
That's not how it's going to be
And I deny the tears in my eyes
I don't want to let you see.. no
That you have made a hole in my heart
And now I've got to fool myself..

I'll get over you.. I know I will
I'll pretend my ship's not sinking
And I'll tell myself I'm over you
'cause I'm the king of wishful thinking..
I'll get over you.. I know I will
I'll pretend my ship's not sinking
And I'll tell myself I'm over you
'cause I'm the king of wishful thinking

I will never, never shed a tear for you
I'll get over you

If I don't listen to the talk of the town
Then maybe I can fool myself..

I'll get over you.. I know I will
I'll pretend my ship's not sinking
And I'll tell myself I'm over you
'cause I'm the king of wishful thinking
I'm the king of wishful thinking
I'll get over you.. I know I will
You made a hole in my heart
But I won't shed a tear for you
I'll be the king of wishful thinking
I'll get over you..
I'll pretend my heart's still beating
'cause I've got no more tears for you
I'm the king of wishful thinking..
I'll get over you.. I know I will
You made a hole in my heart
And I'll tell myself I'm over you
'cause I'm the king of wishful thinking