# Non-Christmassy songs that mention Christmas in the lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 5, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587 "2010-11-05T16:16:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/21 "2010-11-05T19:07:34Z")
> [@multimediac17](#): > > I wondered if I should include that but then it opened up questions about other songs - ‘Fairytale Of New York’ doesn’t sound Christmassy either but it is most definitely a Christmas song, so I wasn’t sure whether to include it. I feel the same about ‘Another Lonely Christmas’. I guess “Christmas In Jail” by the Bobs might fall into the same category. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/22 "2010-11-05T19:38:31Z")
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_ ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/23 "2010-11-05T20:01:55Z")
“Calendar Girl” by Neil Sedaka: “(December) You’re the present 'neath my Christmas tree.” ---
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/24 "2010-11-05T20:15:48Z")
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](http://lyricsfreak.com/e/emerson+lake+palmer/i+believe+in+father+christmas_20049796.html) ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/25 "2010-11-05T20:23:07Z")
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” ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/26 "2010-11-05T20:30:11Z")
“[Time of the Season](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MWHFrXiq-Y&feature=related)” by Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan. “Christmas Eve, the lights went out, that don’t really help the situation”… references to Christmas shopping, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/27 "2010-11-05T20:48:28Z")
“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. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/28 "2010-11-05T20:59:43Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/29 "2010-11-05T23:27:46Z")
Once you get past the first 15 seconds, I think the Kinks’ [Father Christmas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjaPXihbORk) qualifies. It’s more a socio-political song than anything about the holiday. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/30 "2010-11-05T23:32:53Z")
Just remembered… Band Aid’s [Do They Know It’s Christmas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9276iYrfgw&feature=fvst) might also fit the description. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/31 "2010-11-06T00:54:32Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > “Christmas Eve, the lights went out, that don’t really help the situation”… references to Christmas shopping, etc. 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. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/32 "2010-11-06T01:47:19Z")
Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called To Say I Love You” includes the line "_No giving thanks to all the Christmas joy you bring"_ ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/33 "2010-11-06T03:36:06Z")
_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. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/34 "2010-11-06T04:00:22Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > I’ve mentioned this one before, but… > > “Last Christmas” by _Wham!_. It mentions Christmas in the title and in the opening line, but it is decidedly un-Christmassy. That’s why I get a bit irked when radio stations play it as part of their Yuletide programming. 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…’ ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/35 "2010-11-06T11:28:47Z")
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 [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxqxSjJFxek) Possibly not the easiest video to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/36 "2010-11-06T13:31:34Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > “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. Excellent version of that song and many others from various musicals on [Broadway Christmas](http://www.amazon.com/Broadway-Christmas-Various-Artists/dp/B000002Q7F), including one of my faves “I Don’t Remember Christmas,” which is definitely not about Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/37 "2010-11-06T13:39:57Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![montag01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@montag01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montag01)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/38 "2010-11-06T13:41:32Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/39 "2010-11-06T13:44:03Z")
Jona Lewie’s [Stop the Calvary](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hVEdE0O5tA) John Prine’s [Christmas in Prison](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G28ApRNb-7U) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/40 "2010-11-06T14:03:42Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > 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…’ This week, to save me from piqué I’ll give it to someone special [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587.md?page=3)