# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/41 "2010-11-06T14:08:17Z")
The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York is about two drug addicts, although it takes place during the holidays. I have made bold some of my favorite lines from the song… > [@](#): > > **You’re a bum > You’re a punk > You’re an old slut on junk > Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed > You scumbag, you maggot > You cheap lousy faggot > Happy Christmas your arse > I pray God it’s our last** ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/42 "2010-11-06T14:19:00Z")
**Fried Dough Ho** , we’re pretty strict about copyright here, so ask that you don’t quote song lyrics in their entirety. If you need the complete lyrics to make a point, please find them elsewhere and provide a link. I have trimmed your quote down to an acceptable length – if I left out something essential to your point, let me know. In the meantime, please read our complete rules on copyright [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6769907&postcount=2). Thanks, **twickster** , Cafe Society moderator ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/43 "2010-11-06T14:47:06Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > 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 > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxqxSjJFxek&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxqxSjJFxek&feature=related) > > Possibly not the easiest video to watch. Just had to say how excited I was to see someone mention Athlete on these boards. Shocker Khan and I are huge Athlete fans and see them any chance we get here in Chicago. Great band that I can’t believe never got bigger over here in the States. As far as this song…we already liked it a lot before our daughter was born and had to spend several weeks in the NICU. Of course, after we went through all of that the song has a whole different level of relatability. ---
**Author:** ![imp219](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@imp219](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imp219)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/44 "2012-10-28T08:41:52Z")
The three that I thought of ‘I just called to say I love you’ by Stevie Wonder ‘Moving to New York’ by the Wombats ‘Wires’ by Athlete ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/45 "2012-10-28T16:37:10Z")
First, for what it’s worth, this is a thread from 2010 (as is the one its OP links to). Second, I notice that people have been offering two completely different types of examples: (1) Songs that are not about Christmas but that mention Christmas in passing (which I think is what the OP had in mind), and (2) Songs that are fundamentally about Christmas or about something or someone associated with the day, or are set at Christmastime, but which are not “Christmassy” in mood or spirit. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/46 "2012-10-29T19:20:53Z")
“Tojo”-Hoodoo Gurus I said,“Tracy won’t you listen - this is Christmas! Don’t you go.Don’t you go.” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD9JjwWhAoY) ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/47 "2012-10-29T20:42:44Z")
Set at Christmastime, but definitely not joyful: Gordon Lightfoot’s [“Circle of Steel”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Soi2hdVDUho) ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/48 "2012-10-29T22:51:32Z")
I guess it’s more of an actual Christmas song, but “2000 Miles” by The Pretenders comes to mind. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KCoZVxlZWtU/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGFQgVShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLADIyaWzaGkNis7TzmHDRCCTvUdPw "PRETENDERS - 2000 Miles") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCoZVxlZWtU) > **[Pretenders - 2000 Miles lyrics | LyricsFreak](https://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/pretenders/2000+miles_20110669.html)** > > Read or print original 2000 Miles lyrics 2023 updated! He's gone, / 2000 miles, / Is very far. / The snows falling down. / It's colder day ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/49 "2012-10-30T04:08:26Z")
There’s “Always Winter Never Christmas,” written by Andy Partridge for XTC but never recorded by the band (the home demo came out as a b-side). It’s basically a plea to his then-wife to loosen up and give him some now and then. (They later divorced.) ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/50 "2012-10-30T22:00:56Z")
Pink Floyd’s “Christmas comes but once a year”? ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/51 "2012-11-02T06:03:14Z")
Christmas and me are through- by Your Vegas [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wdPBgVsuwR8/hqdefault.jpg "Christmas And Me Are Through - Your Vegas + lyrics!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdPBgVsuwR8) Christmas TV- by Slow Club [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCsKv1aKS0Q) Bizarrely enough, both of those songs play over scenes of prisoners being murdered on the show Chuck. ---
**Author:** ![spymaniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@spymaniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spymaniac)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587/52 "2012-11-02T09:22:43Z")
> [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](#): > > 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” the fact the main piano melody is basically ‘Jingle Bells’ means this is a very christmassy track IMO > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Second, I notice that people have been offering two completely different types of examples: > (1) Songs that are not about Christmas but that mention Christmas in passing (which I think is what the OP had in mind), and > (2) Songs that are fundamentally about Christmas or about something or someone associated with the day, or are set at Christmastime, but which are not “Christmassy” in mood or spirit. reading the thread I noticed that too, so here’s an example of each: (1) Cardinal - ‘If You Believe In Christmas Trees’ (nothing to do with christmas) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_AHLRvuwSB8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AHLRvuwSB8) (2) Further & The Summer Hits - ‘Christmas Has Been Cancelled Due To Lack Of Interest’ (not “Christmassy” in mood or spirit) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BcgrOlJ8m8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BcgrOlJ8m8) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-christmassy-songs-that-mention-christmas-in-the-lyrics/559587.md?page=2)