Do They Know It's Christmas? — Lyrics, History & Fun Facts

Do They Know It's Christmas? is a charity Christmas single organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for the Ethiopian famine crisis, featuring an all-star lineup of British and Irish pop artists including Bono, George Michael, Boy George, and Sting. The song became the fastest-selling single in UK chart history at the time and raised millions of pounds for humanitarian aid. Its legacy extends far beyond music, having pioneered the charity super-group concept and inspired the legendary Live Aid concert.

The History of "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Do They Know It's Christmas? was written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in response to the devastating 1984 Ethiopian famine, after Geldof saw harrowing BBC news reports by Michael Buerk. The song was recorded on November 25, 1984, at SARM West Studios in London with a supergroup of British and Irish artists assembled under the name Band Aid. It sold over a million copies in its first week, became the UK Christmas number one, and ultimately raised over 8 million pounds for famine relief. The song has been re-recorded three times — in 1989 (Band Aid II), 2004 (Band Aid 20), and 2014 (Band Aid 30) — each time with a new generation of pop stars and for a new humanitarian cause.

Fun Facts About "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

• It was recorded in a single day with over 40 of the biggest British and Irish pop stars
• Bob Geldof reportedly called artists personally and shamed them into participating
• The song was the fastest-selling single in UK chart history at the time of its release
• Its success directly led to the Live Aid concert in July 1985, watched by nearly 2 billion people
• The song has been re-recorded three times: 1989, 2004, and 2014

Movies & TV Appearances

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" has been featured in the following movies and television specials:

• Bohemian Rhapsody
• Yesterday
• Love Actually

Listen to "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

You can listen to "Do They Know It's Christmas?" on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. Search for the original version by Band Aid or explore the many popular covers recorded over the years.