# Christmas songs with parts that irritate me **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 11, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212 "2017-12-11T17:07:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/181 "2017-12-20T22:47:55Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > 😕 Adeste Fideles is O Come All Ye Faithful. 😕 :smack: Didn’t think that looked right. Turns out that it was the B side to one of the “Silent Night” singles and I wasn’t paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/182 "2017-12-20T22:57:20Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Honestly, though, how many people know of “Christmas Ghost Stories” not by Dickens? I notice that your linked article doesn’t refer to any. > > Dickens, by the way, wrote more than just that one Christmas Ghost Story – he also wrote **The Man that Haunted Himself** , one of Dickens’ other, much less successful Christmas books. It’s sort of Christmas Carol with the Scrooge-guy’s future self as the ghost of Christmas future. He also wrote a story -within-a-story of “The Goblin who Kidnapped a Sexton”, a sort of proto-Christmas Carl, inside **the Pickwick Papers**. Betcha nobody here has even heard of these, let alone read 'em. Robertson Davies, one of North America’s finest Authors, wrote High Spirits: A Collection of Ghost Stories. High Spirits is a collection of short stories by the Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist and professor. Robertson Davies was Master of Massey College at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario from 1963 until 1981. Shortly after founding the College, he decided that he would tell a ghost story at the College’s annual Christmas party — its Gaudy Night — as an entertainment. The telling of a ghost story became a tradition, and for eighteen years Davies wrote a new story, which he read out at the Gaudy Night celebration. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/183 "2017-12-20T23:13:25Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > 
He also wrote a story -within-a-story of “The Goblin who Kidnapped a Sexton”, a sort of proto-Christmas Carl, inside **the Pickwick Papers**. 
 Christmas Carl? Isn’t he a character in _Love Actually_? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/184 "2017-12-20T23:17:28Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Christmas Carl? Isn’t he a character in _Love Actually_? Yes, the enigmatic chief designer Karl! He’s cute. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/185 "2017-12-20T23:46:11Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Silly me, how could I leave out “I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In” > > _Oh they sailed into Bethlehem > On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day > They sailed into Bethlehem > On Christmas Day in the morning._ > > That’s what you saw, dude? Check a map. Yeah, um, no. That song is stupid from start to finish. Another verse goes something like: And what was on those ships all three On Christmas Day in the morning? Our Savior Christ and his lady On Christmas Day in the morning. Jesus had not yet been born on Christmas Day in the morning. And he sure wasn’t on some damned ship, much less three ships. And imagine the ruckus if all the bells on earth rang and all the angels in heaven and all the souls on earth sang on Christmas Day in the morning. I’m pretty sure that would wake up all the babes on earth. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/186 "2017-12-20T23:50:51Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > 
Second, no friends of mine would be douchebags who stand around outside in the middle of winter going “Yoo-hoo!” If it helps, think of it as "Outside the snow is falling, and friends are calling you “Who?” ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/187 "2017-12-21T19:45:47Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > In a similar vein: “Up on the Housetop” (which is probably one of the oldest secular Christmas carols–1860’s) has a line about some poor kid getting a hammer and lots of tacks. Gee, thanks, Santa
 Don’t forget about the “whip that cracks”!!! Another nice gift for a kid! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/188 "2017-12-21T21:29:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **ioioio** : > > Jesus had not yet been born on Christmas Day in the morning. And he sure wasn’t on some damned ship, much less three ships. I think the usual assumption is that he was born at some time during the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So by Christmas Day in the morning, he would have already been born. I won’t dispute about the ship, though. ---
**Author:** ![kath94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/67e7ee/32.png) [@kath94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kath94)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/189 "2017-12-21T21:48:21Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > “It’s the Holiday Season”: A moderately obscure song (most famously sung by Andy Williams, I think). It’s mostly harmless except for one line that makes me want to throw the hardware through a window: > > _So whoop-de-doo > And dickory dock > And don’t forget > To hang up your sock._ > > What the hell is that? Just lazy lyrics, and embued with a sense of ennui and snark that is most unbecoming to the season. Absolutely HATE this song, for these EXACT lyrics. That’s some rhyming desperation there! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/190 "2017-12-21T21:56:56Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > Don’t forget about the “whip that cracks”!!! > > Another nice gift for a kid! ([Shrug](https://www.amazon.com/6-Leather-Whip-Indiana-Jones/dp/B001EDIB6M/).) Don’t know if that one actually works, but the one that I had as a kid when _Indiana Jones_ was new sure did. (That was also the time period for the Great Ninja Fad of the 1980s, so I also had real swords, butterfly knives, blowguns, nunchucks, throwing stars, and throwing knives as a kid.) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/191 "2017-12-22T01:56:38Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > NOT a copyright trap. I’ve driven past it many times. It’s been a while, though, and I’m not certain the 20-foot high bust of Santa Claus is still there. (Didn’t read whole thread; don’t know if this has been addressed
) That 20-foot bust of Santa is looooooooong gone from its hallowed roost on that rooftop in Carpinteria. But last time I drove down that way (admittedly 12+ years ago) it was sitting in a car dealership parking lot or some such place alongside the freeway in or near Ventura. If you’re driving north on 101 (“_The_ 101” as the southlandish say it), watch for it on the right. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/192 "2017-12-22T02:36:25Z")
An obscure one: _A Flemish Carol_, which I think I’ve only heard on a Mormon Tabernacle Choir album from my youth. It has this interesting lyric: _A little Child on the earth has been born He came to earth for the sake of us all And wishes us all a happy new year_ Those crazy Flems
conflating Baby Jesus and Baby New Year. I picture Jesus in the manger, wearing a diaper, top hat and a sash (with a “1” on it) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/193 "2017-12-22T05:20:44Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I have a different take on this. The king should be saying “What do you mean ‘Let _US_ bring,’ commoner? You got some silver and gold there in your pocket? Tell ya what, though. We can bring him your talking lamb and say it’s from both of us.” The interesting thing about Do You Hear What I Hear? is that it’s not really about Christmas. It’s a veiled reference to the Cuban Missle Crisis. Do you hear what I hear? A star, a star, dancing in the night With a tail as big as a kite Seriously. > **[Do You Hear What I Hear?](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_You_Hear_What_I_Hear%3F)** > > "Do You Hear What I Hear?" is a song written in October 1962, with lyrics by NoĂ«l Regney and music by Gloria Shayne. The pair, married at the time, wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Regney had been invited by a record producer to write a Christmas song, but he was hesitant due to the commercialism of Christmas. It has sold tens of millions of copies and has been covered by hundreds of artists. > "Do You Hear What I Hear?" tells a story loosely based upon the story of th... As for me, my absolute favorite Christmas song is the Little Drummer Boy. I know, but hear me out. A miracle has just occurred, this little impoverished boy makes the journey to welcome the King, realizes he has nothing to offer in celebration, and gives the only thing he can give - his music, the truest expression of his soul. He thinks it’s a paltry offering, but it’s the best gift of all. I’m tearing up just thinking about it. That said, those low pitched “huuuums” in the background of that song set me on edge. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/194 "2017-12-22T14:35:09Z")
Oh, I like “The Little Drummer Boy”, too, and for the same reasons. But you still have to admit that it’s kind of ridiculous, and that there’s some fun to be had with that ridiculousness. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/195 "2017-12-22T15:22:59Z")
Oh yes, that comment about, “You had one job!” cracked me up. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/196 "2017-12-23T22:14:16Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > 2 pages in and we haven’t touched on the worst song of them all “Most Wonderful Time of the Year?” > > Not only is “hap-happiest seeeeaaaassson of aaaaallll” the most annoying thing on Earth because of the damn “hap-happy” but “mistletoeing” Mistletoe is a noun, not a verb! Hey, if “jingle-belling” can be a verb, so can “mistletoeing”! ---
**Author:** ![Sveltington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@Sveltington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sveltington)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/197 "2017-12-23T22:53:35Z")
Aaron Neville’s Soulful Christmas is my favorite Holiday CD and I love his voice so it really doesn’t matter WHAT he is saying but I am so confused by The Bells of St. Mary. I finally really listened to the words and checked on line and . . . The young loves, the true loves, That come from the sea. And so my beloved, When red leaves are falling, W T F ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/198 "2017-12-23T23:41:31Z")
“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” “Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again”? What district did this songwriter live in? Because it looks a hella lot like Christmas in the stores on November 1. The rest of the world starts celebrating Christmas on Black Friday, with municipalities and homeowners putting up lights, and every radio station playing Christmas music. Meanwhile, every district that I ever worked in has school right up until the last possible minute. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/199 "2017-12-24T16:50:21Z")
November 1? If only. The first store displays around here were up before Labor Day this year. Back to “We Need a Little Christmas”, one of Mame’s nephews complains it’s too early to put up the decorations because Thanksgiving was only a week ago. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212/200 "2017-12-24T18:02:59Z")
Wow, even I won’t complain about Christmas decorations going up right after Thanksgiving. My family happens to wait a little longer, but it’s still perfectly reasonable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-with-parts-that-irritate-me/804212.md?page=11)