First of all, so I don’t come across as a Scrooge, I love Christmas carols. Not too early of course (curse you, WYNZ -Y100.9 for playing Christmas songs and only Christmas songs 2 full weeks BEFORE Thanksgiving). I like listening to radio stations playing all Christmas songs — but only until AFTER Thanksgiving.
As I said, I love Christmas songs — you know, the typical Christmas songs: Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snow Man, Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, , Let It Snow, White Christmas, Little Drummer Boy, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer — whatever. And I’m not fussy and enjoy new artists doing the same old songs. I also like funny or irreverent Christmas songs: Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, the Chipmunk Christmas Song. Another one I like is the 12 Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser.
But lately it seems that every song that even mentions Christmas, or presents, or snow for goodness sake, seems to somehow qualify as a Christmas song. I’ve heard several songs over the radio in the last week that I don’t typically think of as Christmas songs — certainly they’re not Christmas carols. Don’t get me wrong, I like the songs but just don’t think they should be included as Christmas songs.
One is Pretty Paper by Roy Orbison. If you’re unfamiliar with it, here are the lyrics:
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
Wrap your presents to your darling from you
Pretty pencils to write “I love you”
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
Crowded street, busy feet hustle by him
Downtown shoppers, Christmas is nigh
There he sits all alone on the sidewalk
Hoping that you won’t pass him by
Should you stop?, better not, much too busy
You’re in a hurry, my how time does fly
In the distance the ringing of laughter
And in the midst of the laughter he cries
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
Wrap your presents to your darling from you
Pretty pencils to write “I love you”
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
Hey, don’t get me wrong — I like the song. For me though (and I know some will disagree), it’s not a Christmas song just because it mentions that Christmas is nigh — like that reference though ;-).
I also heard one on the radio recently by Jim Croce — It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way. Again, if not familiar with the song, here are the lyrics:
Snowy nights and Christmas lights,
Icy windowpanes,
Make me wish that we could be
Together again.
And the windy winter avenues
Just don't seem the same,
And the Christmas carols sound like blues,
But the choir is not to blame.
But it doesn't have to be that way.
What we had should never have ended.
I'll be dropping by today.
We could easily get it together tonight.
It's only right.
Crowded stores, the corner Santa Claus,
Tinseled afternoons,
And the sidewalk bands play their songs
Slightly out of tune.
Down the windy winter avenues
There walks a lonely man,
And if I told you who he is,
Well I think you'd understand.
But it doesn't have to be that way.
What we had should never have ended.
I'll be dropping by today.
We could easily get it together tonight.
It's only right.
No, it doesn't have to be that way.
What we had should never have ended.
I'll be dropping by today.
We could easily get it together tonight.
It's only right.
Nope. Love the song — just don’t think of it as a Christmas song. Do you?
Yesterday, on my “all Christmas songs” radio station, I heard this one by Dan Fogelberg: Same Old Lang Syne. Again, the lyrics:
Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve
She didn't recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried.
We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged.
We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn't find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car.
We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.
She said she'd married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didn't like to lie.
I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw
Doubt or gratitude.
She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
But the traveling was hell.
We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.
We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence
Another 'auld lang syne'…
The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out
And I watched her drive away.
Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make
my way back home
The snow turned into rain —
I like these three songs — and know that lots of others of this type are played during this holiday season — and that they’re called Christmas songs. Call me an old duffer, but I disagree.
Perhaps I’m being too nit-picky. I guess I could always call them non-carol Christmas songs.
What do you think?
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