Does any one know the back story on this song?

Just what was Tiny Tim thinking when he decided to put this song out?

First he makes light of the AIDS epidemic and then he brings Santa Claus into it!

I know the song was released in 1985, but wasn’t AIDS a serious problem even back then? His other songs weren’t controversial like this one. I mean how does he go from “Tip Toe In The Tulips” to “Santa Claus Has Got The AIDS This Year”?