# Depressing Christmas Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147 "2007-12-16T00:47:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lambo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lambo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/41 "2007-12-18T01:50:44Z")
[QUOTE=Pithy Moniker] I came in to mention this song. It’s especially nice how the singer thinks that god sent the boy to remind him what the holiday is about. God says, “Sorry about your mom kiddo. There’s this guy that’s forgotten what Christmas is about.” [/QUOTE] I’m sorry, but all I can think after reading the lyrics to the song is that the narrator was a victim of a scam. “Oh no, I can’t get my dying mother a pair of shoes! How will she die happy now?” The kid was probably back in the store an hour later, returning the shoes for a cash refund. Ah well, I’ve still got my retail loss prevention instincts to keep me warm. ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/42 "2007-12-18T02:38:56Z")
blue christmas by elvis presley > **[Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas lyrics | LyricsFreak](https://www.lyricsfreak.com/e/elvis+presley/blue+christmas_20048643.html)** > > Read or print original Blue Christmas lyrics 2023 updated! I'll have a blue Christmas without you / I'll be so blue just thinking about you ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/43 "2007-12-18T03:00:04Z")
[Prayer of the Children](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_the_Children) never mentions Christmas, or even winter, but the hauntingly beautiful four-part men’s choir version of it is on the playlist of the local Christmas Music station. ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/44 "2007-12-18T03:19:18Z")
I’ll second “Christmas Shoes”. The one line that **always** gets me is “If Momma meets Jesus tonight”. The worst is when it plays at work and I start tearing up in front of the customers. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/45 "2007-12-18T12:22:48Z")
[QUOTE=Stauderhorse] I’ll second “Christmas Shoes”. The one line that **always** gets me is “If Momma meets Jesus tonight”. The worst is when it plays at work and I start tearing up in front of the customers. [/QUOTE] Try listening to it sung by a high school choir performing at your company’s Christmas luncheon. The table behind me was full of IT guys and they were sniffling like mad by the end. One lady (who lost her mom a year before said luncheon, to the **day** ) had to leave the room and sob in the hallway. Seriously, WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/46 "2007-12-18T13:02:56Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] [This album](http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1219779/a/Christmas+Songs:+The+Nettwerk+Christmas+Album.htm) is a pretty solid collection, with one notable exception. “The Cat Carol” by Meryn Cadell makes you want to put a bullet through your head! [/QUOTE] Dangit…almost forgot about that one. I kinda wish I had—thanks for tearing open old wounds. ( 😉 ) Anyway, how about…El Vez’ _Christmas Wish_? Possible SPOILER-ey details in [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5631260&postcount=75). A sample from iTunes really wouldn’t do it justice…it’s the last ten seconds or so that turn it from “vaguely melancholy” to outright spooky. ---
**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 18, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/47 "2007-12-18T16:16:48Z")
[QUOTE=Stauderhorse] I’ll second “Christmas Shoes”. The one line that **always** gets me is “If Momma meets Jesus tonight”. The worst is when it plays at work and I start tearing up in front of the customers. [/QUOTE] Pardon me but the OP wants depressing songs, not glurge. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/48 "2007-12-18T17:08:54Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] [This album](http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1219779/a/Christmas+Songs:+The+Nettwerk+Christmas+Album.htm) is a pretty solid collection, with one notable exception. “The Cat Carol” by Meryn Cadell makes you want to put a bullet through your head! Lyrics [here.](http://www.tsrocks.com/m/meryn_cadell_texts/the_cat_carol.html) [/QUOTE] Okay that did it. I’ll be back later. I need to go hug my cats and try not to get them all wet. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/49 "2007-12-18T17:17:47Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] [This album](http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1219779/a/Christmas+Songs:+The+Nettwerk+Christmas+Album.htm) is a pretty solid collection, with one notable exception. “The Cat Carol” by Meryn Cadell makes you want to put a bullet through your head! Lyrics [here.](http://www.tsrocks.com/m/meryn_cadell_texts/the_cat_carol.html) [/QUOTE] You did warn me. Why oh why oh why did I click that link? If I throw up, I wonder if the cats would eat it… ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/50 "2007-12-18T17:22:35Z")
_Please, Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)_ - John Denver “I don’t wanna see my momma cry…” and _Same Old Lang Syne_ - Dan Fogelberg not too depressing until the final lines: “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…” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/51 "2007-12-18T17:51:24Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] “The Cat Carol” by Meryn Cadell makes you want to put a bullet through your head! Lyrics [here.](http://www.tsrocks.com/m/meryn_cadell_texts/the_cat_carol.html) [/QUOTE] This is one of two Christmas songs that has made me cry. The other is [Santa I’m Right Here](http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/t/toby_keith/santa_im_right_here.html) by Toby Keith. And I _like_ sad Christmas songs - Coventry Carol and Christmas(Baby Please Come Home) are two of my favorite Christmas songs. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/52 "2007-12-18T17:57:03Z")
[QUOTE=Nawth Chucka] Oh my f-ing God, [this](http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/carlisle-bob/christmas-shoes-10186.html) has to be the worst and most depressing Christmas song since Dear Mr Jesus. I mean, seriously?! It has the most pathetic components you can conjure up - little boy, poverty, dying mother, empty gesture, ‘Christmas’ spirit (buying things for others even if you don’t feel like it). [/QUOTE] I’m always surprised to hear of otherwise rational people who are so “moved” by this song. It just chokes me up in that “gotta find a barf bag” way. Did you know they’ve got a book based on the song now? Blegh. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/53 "2007-12-18T18:22:34Z")
[QUOTE=Greg Charles] So is “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer”, though I guess that depends on how you feel about grandma. [/QUOTE] Nothing says “holidays” like a hit-and-run on an elderly woman! ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/54 "2007-12-18T18:38:32Z")
[QUOTE=Anne Neville] You did warn me. Why oh why oh why did I click that link? If I throw up, I wonder if the cats would eat it… [/QUOTE] Yeah, yeah, I know. Pure and utter schmaltz. But I’m powerless against sad cat-related schmaltz. I can’t help it. ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/55 "2007-12-18T19:27:42Z")
[QUOTE=Jeep’s Phoenix] I’m always surprised to hear of otherwise rational people who are so “moved” by this song. It just chokes me up in that “gotta find a barf bag” way. Did you know they’ve got a book based on the song now? Blegh. [/QUOTE] And a movie. With _Rob Lowe_. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/56 "2007-12-18T19:38:21Z")
[QUOTE=winterhawk11] I’m powerless against sad cat-related schmaltz. I can’t help it. [/QUOTE] Usually I am, too. But I don’t want my cats curling up with mice in the spirit of Christmas. I want them to kill and eat the buggers, the way cats are supposed to do. I _really_ don’t want to think that my cats might do anything with mice or rats other than kill them. If I assume they would kill any rodents they found, I can say that the fact that I’ve never seen them with a dead rodent must mean that my house is rodent-free. If my house isn’t rodent-free… :eek: If I find a mouse or rat in the house, I will scream loudly enough that people in Australia will be saying, “Keep it down”. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/57 "2007-12-23T18:47:34Z")
“I’m Walkin’ Through Your Town Tonight” – just heard it on Prairie Home Companion. I looked for the lyrics but couldn’t find them, darn it. Lonely old hobo, looking for someplace warm to spend Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147/58 "2007-12-24T01:18:58Z")
Well, of course John Cash is gonna have a sad Christmas song… [“Christmas As I Knew It”](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/johnny-cash/christmas-as-i-knew-it.html), from his album “The Christmas Spirit”. Bittersweet depressing, as it wasn’t just schmaltzy writing about Christmas situation, but true from Mr. Cash’s experience. It’s about making do, but then the last lines kinda crush the bit of joy found: > [@](#): > > Christmas came and Christmas went > Christmas that year was heaven sent > Then daddy put on his gumboots waited for the thaw > back home in Dyess Arkansas [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-christmas-songs/430147.md?page=2)