The vacation season is meant to be a time of pleasure, unity and normal effectively needs.
However let’s face it: for most individuals it is unattainable to be merry and shiny 100% of the time. For as comfortable of a time as it may be, the vacation season may carry up emotions of loneliness, isolation, rejection and unhappiness. What kind of festive music goes with that?
Seems, there are greater than a handful of “unhappy” vacation songs written in regards to the not-so-fun components of the season. We’re having a look at 30 of them under.
1. “Blue Christmas,” Elvis Presley
From: Elvis’ Christmas Album (1957)
Many, many individuals have coated “Blue Christmas,” together with however not restricted to: the Seaside Boys, Billy Idol, Sheryl Crow and Ringo Starr, to call just a few. However arguably the definitive recording is Elvis Presley’s 1957 model, successful that featured gospel group the Jordanaires on backing vocals. Neglect a white Christmas, the blues are right here to remain.
2. “Final Christmas,” Wham!
From: 1984 Single
Sure, “Final Christmas” by Wham! is a complete bop and continues to be a well-liked vacation tune many years after its authentic launch. It is also a tune about Christmastime recollections with a lover who has betrayed the narrator. George Michael wrote it in his childhood bed room, in all probability with no concept that it could attain No. 3 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 40 years later. “It’s a testomony to the enduring enchantment of one in every of George Michael’s songwriting masterstrokes that ‘Final Christmas’ appears to have change into woven into the very cloth of Christmas,” his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley advised Billboard in 2024.
3. “Please Come House for Christmas,” Eagles
From: 1978 Single
You won’t consider Eagles as a blues rock band, however there have been factors the place they’ve lent their abilities to the style, like with 1978’s “Please Come House for Christmas,” a canopy of a 1960 tune first recorded by the blues singer Charles Brown. Whenever you’re achieved with this model, there are additionally renditions of it by Bon Jovi, Cher, Willie Nelson, B.B. King and extra.
4. “Identical Previous Lang Syne,” Dan Fogelberg
From: The Harmless Age (1981)
You recognize these Hallmark vacation motion pictures the place two highschool sweethearts return to their hometowns for Christmas and reconnect? That is form of the premise of Dan Fogelberg’s “Identical Previous Lang Syne,” during which a pair stumble upon each other on the grocery retailer on Christmas Eve and wind up reminiscing on years passed by over a six-pack within the automobile. (Grocery purchasing on Christmas Eve and consuming behind the wheel each look like questionable selections although…)
5. “I Need to Come House for Christmas,” Marvin Gaye
From: 1972 Single
You possibly can consider Marvin Gaye’s “I Need to Come House for Christmas” because the form of sultry, soul model of “I am going to Be House for Christmas.” Co-written by Gaye and Forest Hairston, it is also an anti-war quantity: “I need to see snowflakes fall / I need to see Santa Claus / Ooo, I need to hear jingle bells ring / Need to hear jingle bells ringing / However I am unable to promise my eyes this sight / Until they cease the struggle.”
6. “River,” Joni Mitchell
From: Blue (1971)
“It is approaching Christmas, they’re reducing down bushes,” Joni Mitchell sings forlornly in “River.” However as she factors out, it does not snow a lot in California, which solely appears so as to add to her feeling of isolation post-partnership with Graham Nash. “‘River’ made me unhappy, as a result of it chronicled the top of our relationship,” Nash advised The Guardian in 2021, “but in addition elated, as a result of it was such a good looking tune and he or she had the braveness to reveal her soul. We have been very a lot in love. I treasured that relationship.”
7. “Christmas Eve Can Kill You,” The Everly Brothers
From: Tales We Might Inform (1972)
The complete title of this Everly Brothers recording is “Christmas Eve Can Kill You (When You are Attempting to Hitch a Journey to Wherever).” Do not let the fragile two-part concord deceive you – this can be a tune about being stranded on the facet of the street within the chilly with no assist to be discovered, even on Christmas Eve.
8. “Father Christmas,” The Kinks
From: 1977 Single
Sadly the Kinks’ “Father Christmas” stays related at present within the sense that cash is commonly extra helpful to younger folks than toys. To be clear, we’re not encouraging children to beat up folks dressed as Santa Claus or, because the tune states, purchase machine weapons to take care of the issue. All we’re saying is the wealth could possibly be distributed slightly extra evenly. “I like the humor of it, and the aggression and bitterness,” Dave Davies would later say. “I may see the faces of my dad and mom when Christmas got here round. They needed to battle to make ends meet. We form of obtained what we wanted, however there was one thing faux in regards to the vacation.”
9. “If We Make It By way of December,” Merle Haggard
From: Merle Haggard’s Christmas Current (1973)
The following few entires concentrate on some extra country-leaning artists, beginning with the late Merle Haggard, whose 1973 hit “If We Make It By way of December” is a deceptively upbeat quantity about onerous instances making the vacation season even more durable: “I needed Christmas to be proper for Daddy’s lady / I do not imply to hate December, it is meant to be the comfortable time of 12 months / However my little lady do not perceive / Why Daddy cannot afford no Christmas gear.” (For a recent model of the tune, try Phoebe Bridgers‘ 2020 cowl.)
10. “Ringing the Bells for Jim,” Johnny Money
From: The Christmas Spirit (1963)
Christmas is an efficient time for hope. In “Ringing the Bells for Jim,” Johnny Money sings about approaching a priest round this time of 12 months, whom he asks to hope for his dying brother Jim. This appeared on Money’s 1963 album The Christmas Spirit, which additionally features a cowl of “Blue Christmas.”
11. “Exhausting Sweet Christmas,” Dolly Parton
From: The Finest Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982 Soundtrack)
“Exhausting Sweet Christmas” was written by Carol Corridor for the musical The Finest Little Whorehouse in Texas, which opened off-Broadway within the late ’70s. Dolly Parton, who appeared within the 1982 movie model of the manufacturing, turned it right into a No. 8 hit on the Billboard Sizzling Nation Songs chart. Cyndi Lauper launched her personal model in 2016, which featured Alison Krauss.
12. “Christmas in Jail,” John Prine
From: Candy Revenge (1973)
There are few extra miserable locations one may spend Christmas than behind bars, however John Prine did not seem like talking a few literal place in “Christmas in Jail.” Moderately, it is about feeling emotionally trapped, unable to stay life to the fullest extent with family members. “It is Christmas in jail / There will be music tonight / I am going to in all probability get homesick/ I like you, goodnight.” (In keeping with Rolling Stone, Prine liked the vacation season a lot he saved a Christmas tree up all 12 months spherical in his bachelor home.)
13. “One other Lonely Christmas,” Prince
From: 1984 Single
Depart it to Prince to jot down a Christmas tune that’s in some way each attractive and unhappy. “One other Lonely Christmas” got here out in 1984 because the B-side of the one “I Would Die 4 U.” Issues take an awfully darkish flip on the finish of this observe…
14. “7 O’Clock Information / Silent Night time,” Simon & Garfunkel
From: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966)
Have you ever ever needed to take heed to a Christmas tune that was each biblical and chock filled with miserable information? Simon & Garfunkel have you ever coated with “7 O’Clock Information / Silent Night time.” As its title suggests, it is a cowl of “Silent Night time” over prime of varied items of then-contemporary information reviews: the dying of comic Lenny Bruce, protests towards the Vietnam Battle, a speech by Richard Nixon, and so on.
15. “Sometime at Christmas,” Stevie Surprise
From: Sometime at Christmas (1967)
Stevie Surprise’s “Sometime at Christmas” is one other a kind of deceptively cheerful sounding vacation songs. Surprise’s voice is clean as silk, however he is singing in regards to the world being rife with violence and discrimination — hardly the image of vacation goodness or “peace on earth.” The Jackson 5 launched a model of this tune in 1970, and so did Lizzo in 2022.
16. “Only a Lonely Christmas,” The Supremes
From: Merry Christmas (2015 Reissue)
The Supremes’ recording of “Simply One other Lonely Christmas” didn’t seem on their 1965 vacation album Merry Christmas. A few years later, it popped up when a reissue of the album was launched in 2015. Diana Ross is fairly convincing right here as a fantastically depressed lover craving for her companion to return to her arms.
17. “Christmas Ain’t Christmas, New Years Ain’t New Years With out The One You Love,” The O’Jays
From: 1969 Single
There is a purpose they name it the vacation season. There’s not only one vacation to probably endure alone however a number of, back-to-back. For a tune that covers each Christmas and New 12 months’s, the O’Jays have you ever coated with this 1969 single.
18. “Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis,” Tom Waits
From: Blue Valentine (1978)
Nothing says Christmas fairly like listening to from a lady of the evening. Right here is how Tom Waits launched the tune at one in every of his concert events in 1985 — make of it what you’ll: “I used to be in Minneapolis — it was 200 levels under zero — I do know, you suppose I am bullshitting, no, I swear to God, I used to be sporting only a bra and a slip and a form of lifeless squirrel round my neck — he was colder than I used to be. The police automobiles would go by and so they’d wave. … Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas. Anyway, I obtained caught in the course of a pimp battle between two children in Chinchilla coats, they could not have been greater than 13 years outdated — they’re throwing knives and forks and spoons out into the road. It was deep, so I grabbed a ladle, and Dinah Washington was singing ‘Our Day Will Come’ and I knew that was it.”
19. “Snow,” Harry Nilsson
From: Nilsson Sings Newman (1970)
In the event you did not already know this, Harry Nilsson recorded a complete album in collaboration with Randy Newman again in 1969 titled Nilsson Sings Newman — Newman himself offered the piano and keyboard for it. “Snow” really didn’t make the unique album minimize, however was as an alternative launched on the 2000 CD reissue. To be honest, “Snow” by no means mentions any particular holidays, nevertheless it certain is a tragic tune about feeling alone in the course of the winter.
20. “Fairytale of New York,” The Pogues
From: If I Ought to Fall From Grace With God (1988)
There are actually extra comfy locations to spend Christmas Eve than a metropolitan drunk tank, however that is the place the story begins within the Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York.” As Shane MacGowan insisted through the years, the tune got here to be when the Pogues’ producer on the time in 1985, none aside from Elvis Costello, wagered that the band couldn’t write successful Christmas single. He couldn’t have been confirmed extra improper when “Fairytale of New York” wound up an extremely profitable launch in 1987, reaching No. 2 on the U.Okay. singles chart. “For a band just like the Pogues, very strongly rooted in every kind of traditions quite than the current, it was a no brainer,” banjo participant and the tune’s co-writer Jem Finer advised The Guardian in 2012.
21. “Please, Daddy (Do not Get Drunk This Christmas),” John Denver
From: Farewell Andromeda (1973)
Being unhappy or upset in the course of the vacation season is tough sufficient for adults, not to mention kids for whom it needs to be essentially the most thrilling time of the 12 months. John Denver was an grownup when he recorded the self-explanatory “Please, Daddy (Do not Get Drunk This Christmas),” however he was singing from the attitude of a seven-year-old boy: “Please daddy, do not get drunk this Christmas / I do not need to see my momma cry.”
22. “Winter Music,” Lindisfarne
From: Properly Out of Tune (1970)
“When the turkey’s within the oven and the Christmas presents are purchased,” Alan Hull notes in “Winter Music,” from 1970’s Properly Out of Tune, a tune Elvis Costello thought of a favourite and carried out stay himself, “And Santa’s in his module, he is an American astronaut / Do you spare one thought for Jesus who had nothing however his ideas, who obtained busted only for speaking and befriending the improper kinds?“
23. “Christmas,” The Who
From: Tommy (1969)
To get the total impact of “Christmas” by the Who, you may have to take heed to the whole lot of their 1969 idea album Tommy. On this specific quantity, Christmas morning brings up some severe issues in Tommy’s father, given his son’s lack of listening to or sight — deaf, dumb and blind. “Tommy does not know what day it’s / He does not know who Jesus was or what praying is / How can he be saved from the everlasting grave?“
24. “I Imagine in Father Christmas,” Greg Lake
From: 1975 Single
Greg Lake didn’t got down to write a contented, feel-good kind vacation tune when he got here up with “I Imagine in Father Christmas,” his debut solo single launched in 1975. As an alternative, his purpose was in “objecting to the commerciality of Christmas and making an attempt to form of, mainly, remind those that the Christmas you get, you deserve. It is all about giving, it is the enjoyment of giving. That was the actual intention behind the tune.”
25. “Christmas Wrapping,” The Waitresses
From: 1981 Single
The American new wave group the Waitresses have been solely collectively for 5 years and broke up in 1983. However in that point they launched the adorably upbeat “Christmas Wrapping.” It provides off the air of happiness, however the lyrics inform a distinct story about making an attempt to maneuver on from a former companion in the course of the vacation season and spending it largely alone. “Calendar image, frozen panorama / Chill this room for 24 days / Evergreens, glowing snow / Get this winter over with!“
26. “Fairly Paper,” Roy Orbison
From: 1963 Single
Roy Orbison didn’t write “Fairly Paper” – Willie Nelson did that – however frankly Orbison’s silky voice is half of what makes this tune as poignant as it’s. “Crowded road, busy toes hustle by him / Downtown buyers, Christmas is nigh / There he sits on their lonesome on the sidewalk / Hoping that you just will not go him by.”
27. “Christmas at Floor Zero,” Bizarre Al
From: Polka Occasion! (1986)
At Christmastime, who does not need to take into consideration violence and destruction? “It did not make a lot of a splash as a result of radio stations did not appear to suppose it was applicable to launch a tune about nuclear annihilation in the course of the holidays,” Bizarre Al later defined of his 1986 tune “Christmas at Floor Zero.” “It’s nonetheless a fan favourite. The unhappy half is, I am unable to actually play the tune stay anymore as a result of too many individuals misunderstand the connotations of Floor Zero. It isn’t a reference to 9/11, clearly. It was written in 1987 [sic] when ‘floor zero’ simply meant the epicenter of a nuclear assault.”
28. “What a Merry Christmas This Might Be,” Willie Nelson
From: 1964 Single
“What a merry Christmas this could possibly be,” Willie Nelson sings right here, “in the event you would simply come again to me.” Written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard, “What a Merry Christmas This Might Be” was additionally recorded by George Strait in 1986.
29. “It Will not Be the Identical This 12 months,” Vince Gill
From: Let There Be Peace on Earth (1993)
Vince Gill actually determined to place folks by the emotional wringer with “It Will not Be the Identical This 12 months,” a tune about coming residence for the vacations with one much less member of the family there — “first time residence since brother handed away,” he sings. It is the one and solely authentic quantity on Let There Be Peace on Earth, Gill’s 1993 album of largely Christmas tune covers.
30. “Merry Christmas, Darling,” The Carpenters
From: 1970 Single
With a title like “Merry Christmas, Darling,” you’d assume this 1970 tune by the Carpenters could be a contented one. However the lyrics are sung from the attitude of somebody going by the vacation season motions with out the one particular person she desires to be with.
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