# The saddest Christmas songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252 "2004-12-17T02:15:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/81 "2004-12-21T02:05:00Z")
Part of the reason that “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” sounds sad is because it was originally a gregorian chant. In the liner notes of their Christmas album, Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller relates how he thought he was clever coming up the idea to translate the lyrics to Latin and arrange the song with a gregorian chant feel. Through research he discovered…that it was originally a gregorian chant, sung in Latin. If you want to hear a haunting rendition of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” you should listen to Mannheim Steamroller’s rendition. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/82 "2004-12-21T02:13:15Z")
“I’ll be home for Christmas” is so sad. I can’t bear to hear it. ---
**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 21, 2004, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/83 "2004-12-21T06:25:19Z")
> [@Max Carnage](#): > > I don’t know who sings it, but it’s being played on XM Radio a lot on Special X. **Christmas Wish** is sung to the tune of _Sleepwalk_ by someone who sounds a lot like Chris Isaac. Now I’m curious. If you could make a note of who the artist is, the next time that song’s on, I’d love to hear it. By the way…very appropriate “location” under your username, for that post. :eek: ---
**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 21, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/84 "2004-12-21T15:46:02Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > _Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons_. ☹ Did you know that’s a country song? Willie Nelson wrote it. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/85 "2004-12-21T15:51:39Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Now I’m curious. If you could make a note of who the artist is, the next time that song’s on, I’d love to hear it. > > By the way…very appropriate “location” under your username, for that post. :eek: Heard it again yesterday on the way home from work. The artist is El Vez. (God bless multi-line read out displays) It’s a beautifully haunting song, but I can’t tell if it’s supposed to be taken seriously or if it’s a satire. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/86 "2004-12-21T15:51:43Z")
It’s also the title song of Willie’s Christmas album, “Pretty Paper” - which can get you blue just from the sound of his voice, even when he’s singing “Here Comes Santa Claus”. Willie’s “White Christmas” on that same album is also my favorite version. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/87 "2004-12-21T15:56:10Z")
> [@Ferret Herder](#): > > I’ll Be Home for Christmas - people seem to forget that the last line of the song is “Well, maybe next year.” “Send in the Clowns” ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/88 "2004-12-21T18:01:08Z")
> [@Earl Snake-Hips Tucker](#): > > “Send in the Clowns” “They’re already here” ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/89 "2004-12-21T18:31:20Z")
The song that really gets me is Stevie Wonder’s “Someday At Christmas” – especially: > [@](#): > > \*Someday at Christmas there’ll be no wars > When we have learned what Christmas is for > When we have found what life’s really worth > There’ll be peace on earth > > Someday all our dreams will come to be > Someday in a world where men are free > Maybe not in time for you and me > But someday at Christmastime\* One of the radio stations around here recently played this song in the middle of a trifecta which started with “Grown Up Christmas List” by Amy Grant and ended with John and Yoko singing “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” and I swear to Og, I just wanted to stick my head in the oven when it was done. I busted out crying several times during the day after that – and I am choking up just thinking about it now. (I am such a DORK.) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/90 "2004-12-21T18:37:24Z")
May I just note (because I’ve seen “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” mentioned several times in this list) that it’s rather obvious to see who in the Beatles actually had the songwriting talent, despite the constant byline of “Lennon/McCartney”. When the Beatles broke up, Lennon wrote and recorded “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”. McCartney wrote “Wonderful Christmastime”. The prosecution rests. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/91 "2004-12-21T18:52:25Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > McCartney wrote “Wonderful Christmastime”. And I, for one, believe that he should be shot without trial for that. Even Wham! wrote a better Christmas song than the steaming pile of crap that is “Wonderful Christmastime.” ---
**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 21, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/92 "2004-12-21T19:41:51Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > And I, for one, believe that he should be shot without trial for that. Even Wham! wrote a better Christmas song than the steaming pile of crap that is “Wonderful Christmastime.” Really? What’s it called? 'Cause I _know_ you can’t seriously think that “Last Christmas” is better than anything at all (except “The Christmas Shoes.” Everything is better than “The Christmas Shoes”). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/93 "2004-12-21T19:51:26Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Really? What’s it called? > > 'Cause I _know_ you can’t seriously think that “Last Christmas” is better than anything at all (except “The Christmas Shoes.” Everything is better than “The Christmas Shoes”). “Jingle Meows” is better than those damn shoes… ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/94 "2004-12-21T20:26:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 'Cause I _know_ you can’t seriously think that “Last Christmas” is better than anything at all … Hey! I love that song! Seriously. It’s totally lame, and I know it, but I still like it. I can’t stop myself from singing along when I hear it on the radio. In the interest of redeeming myself, though, I would like to also nominate “Merry Christmas Darling” by the Carpenters as one of the saddest Christmas songs ever. It breaks my poor, lame little heart to hear Karen’s voice on that one. Another one is “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” as sung by Ella Fitzgerald. ---
**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 21, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/95 "2004-12-21T20:56:22Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Everything is better than “The Christmas Shoes”. Except Barbara Streisand’s take on “Jingle Bells”. Hey, Babs, would it _kill_ you to pick a tempo and _stick with it_? ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/96 "2004-12-22T14:27:42Z")
I was listening to the radio just now and heard a new contender. [No musical genre does maudlin like Country.](http://www.minibite.com/christmas/christmascarol.htm) It’s almost as bad as that horror about the Christmas shoes – the only thing it’s lacking is mention of Jesus or Heaven. I really expected the kid to die at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/97 "2004-12-22T15:54:35Z")
> [@Jess](#): > > I was listening to the radio just now and heard a new contender. [No musical genre does maudlin like Country.](http://www.minibite.com/christmas/christmascarol.htm) It’s almost as bad as that horror about the Christmas shoes – the only thing it’s lacking is mention of Jesus or Heaven. I really expected the kid to die at the end. Ewwwwwww! Of course, think about it: this creepy Santa guy calls up an orphanage and somehow arranges to pick up a child from it immediately, with no background check or anything. Can we say bribery? There’s no way he got this child through legitimate channels. I fear for Christmas Carol’s Christmas. But that’s another song. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/98 "2004-12-22T16:21:34Z")
Aussie Paul Kelly. He is kind of an Aussie Bob Dylan - writes deceptively simple songs that are just pure genius. However they are very Australian and probably aren’t much known overseas. **How To Make Gravy** The lyrics are [here](http://www.paulkelly.com.au/lyrics/how-to-make-gravy.html) and if you are lucky you may find a way to hear it too. Joe is singing to Dan from jail : Hello Dan, it’s Joe here, I hope you’re keeping well It’s the 21st of December, and now they’re ringing the last bells If I get good behaviour, I’ll be out of here by July Won’t you kiss my kids on Christmas Day, please don’t let 'em cry for me and then he sings about family stuff…until… Oh praise the Baby Jesus, have a Merry Christmas, I’m really gonna miss it, all the treasure and the trash And later in the evening, I can just imagine, You’ll put on Junior Murvin and push the tables back And you’ll dance with Rita, I know you really like her, Just don’t hold her too close, oh brother please don’t stab me in the back I didn’t mean to say that, it’s just my mind it plays up, Multiplies each matter, turns imagination into fact… The way he delivers all that tears me up. I never thought about prisoners at Christmas but now I can’t ignore it. ---
**Author:** ![Priam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/99 "2004-12-22T16:31:55Z")
Personally I think Death Cab for Cutie does a wonderful rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”. The singer’s voice has just the right plaintive pitch without it turning into total whining. For some reason that hits a note with me… ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252/100 "2004-12-22T18:35:58Z")
> [@Graycat](#): > > The verse about myrhh in “We Three Kings”. > > ``` > " Myrhh is mine, its bitter perfume > breathes a life of gathering gloom > sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying; > sealed in the stone-cold tomb. " > > ``` > > You’re giving this to a baby? Yeah, I know it’s foreshadowing and all, and it doesn’t make me tear up, but it’s depressing. Then there’s the second verse in _What Child is This?_ Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you, Hail, hail, the Word made flesh, The babe, the son of Mary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-christmas-songs/280252.md?page=6)