Bob Geldof made history many years ago by releasing a high-profile charity sing-a-long to combat poverty.

Now he’s back for more – this time combatting Ebola. But the lyrics haven’t quite gone down as easily as before.

British nurse, William Pooley, who survived Ebola, said the song’s lyrics were embarrassing and ignorant.

He also branded the hit Ebola fundraising track “cringeworthy”, echoing criticism from several musicians.

“But stuff about ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ It’s just like, actually people live normal lives here and do normal things,” Pooley told Radio Times magazine.

“It’s Africa, not another planet. That sort of cultural ignorance is a bit cringeworthy. There’s a lyric about ‘death in every tear’. It’s just a bit much.”

Check out the video. Very condescending lyrics, wouldn’t you say? Are all Africans illiterate? And since when did the whole of Africa contract Ebola?

Reacting to the comments, Geldof told Britain’s Telegraph newspaper: “Please. It’s a pop song. Relax.”

He said critics were “more than welcome to be offended”, adding: “I couldn’t give a toss. Seriously, I’m the wrong guy.

“The reality behind the pop song – Christmassy, corny, whatever you think about it – the reality behind it is stark.”

“If it’s a pop song that can help ease the pain, the agony, if they can die with a little more dignity then, yeah, I’m there. It’s pretty simple.”

By the way…The new version became the fastest selling single of 2014 in Britain, with more than 312,000 downloads sold in its first week last month, the Official Charts Company said.

In another interview Geldof told William Pooley and his criticism to f**k off!

What a stand up guy (sarcasm)…

See more on this developing story at 9news