I guess “Christmas In Jail” by the Bobs might fall into the same category.
NOFX - Thank God It’s Monday
I’ll tell you why I like Tuesdays (Wednesday)
Cause the’re kinda like Christmas (New Years)
Come to think about Wednesdays (Thursday)
Are a little like Hanukkah (Every day is good)
Thursday’s Thanksgiving
I’m talking about good living
I’ll think I give thanks
Thank God it’s monday
“Calendar Girl” by Neil Sedaka: “(December) You’re the present 'neath my Christmas tree.”
This doesn’t exactly fit the bill, but “I Believe in Father Christmas” by Greg Lake is, melodically, a Christmassy song with Christmas in the lyrics, but is a fairly downbeat melancholy song. For instance, the last two lines: “Hallelujah, noel, be it heaven or hell; the Christmas you get you deserve”. Lyrics here, although be careful, there are some popups: www . Emerson, Lake & Palmer - I Believe In Father Christmas lyrics | LyricsFreak
Joni Mitchell’s River.
“It’s coming on Christmas
They’re cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on”
“Time of the Season” by Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan.
“Christmas Eve, the lights went out, that don’t really help the situation”… references to Christmas shopping, etc.
“Hard Candy Christmas” by Dolly Parton. It’s nothing to do with Christmas, but radio stations will sometimes throw it into the holiday music mix in December. Fine by me, I love that song.
Different artists - St Stephen’s Day Murders - The word is used twice.
Jethro Tull - Christmas Song
Loudon Wainwright Suddenly - It’s Christmas
Da Yoopers - Christmas time at my house
Bananas at Large - Da Turdy Pointer’s Christmas
Once you get past the first 15 seconds, I think the Kinks’ Father Christmas qualifies. It’s more a socio-political song than anything about the holiday.
Speaking of, Dan Folgerberg’s “Same Auld Lang Syne” opens with:
Met my old lover in the grocery store;
The snow was falling Christmas Eve"
…but never mentions Christmas again and is about, well, meeting an old lover and nothing really to do with the holiday.
Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called To Say I Love You” includes the line "No giving thanks to all the Christmas joy you bring"
Dark and grey, an English film, the Wednesday play.
We always watch the Queen on Christmas Day
Won’t you stay?
Blood on the Rooftops by Genesis.
That’s what I came in to say. You could replace ‘Christmas’ with any other holiday, or indeed any other word which scanned, and it’d still work. ‘Last Tuesday, I gave you my heart…’
Wires - Athlete
You’ve got wires, going in
you’ve got wires, coming out of your skin
You’ve got tears, making tracks
I’ve got tears that are scared of the facts
Running down corridors
through automatic doors
Got to get to you
Got to see this through
I see hope is here, in a plastic box
I’ve seen christmas lights, reflected in your eyes
Possibly not the easiest video to watch.
Excellent version of that song and many others from various musicals on Broadway Christmas, including one of my faves “I Don’t Remember Christmas,” which is definitely not about Christmas.
Dar Williams, The Christians and the Pagans might qualify. It is a bit thick with Christmas references, but Christmas is not the only perspective of the song’s narrative.
Amber called her uncle, said “We’re up here for the holiday
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay”
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with red dye number three
He told his niece, “It’s Christmas eve, I know our life is not your style”
She said, “Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and it’s been awhile”
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses
Another Elton John song I don’t think has been mentioned. “Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)” from the album Too Low for Zero. The song is about a dying marriage.
This week, to save me from piqué
I’ll give it to someone special