Who doesn't love a sad Christmas song? The overly cheery, disgustingly heart-warming holiday advertisements that make you cry (here's looking at you, John Lewis) can wear on you after awhile, mostly because the hopeful enthusiasm you had as a 7 year old has given way to grumpy cynicism, heralded by new responsibilities like rent, car payments, and a full-time job (if you're lucky). After an 8 hour day of listening to soft-rock holiday song covers at the office, you need something a bit darker, and a bit closer to home.
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First up, there's "Hard Candy Christmas," written by Carol Hall for the memorable musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1978. You may be familiar with the 1982 film starring the illustrious Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds - that's the recording that got up to #8 in the Country Singles Chart in the same year. Don't let the name of the musical deter you - this song has some incredibly relatable lyrics.
Something about this song reminds me of staying in around the holidays, not attending any parties, plowing through multiple cartons of non-alcoholic eggnog and watching Miracle on 34th Street on television.
And then we have this song - "If We Make it Through December" by Merle Haggard in 1973. Alan Jackson also did a cover of this song, but I prefer the original. There is just something so...haggard...about Merle's version. It made it to #1 on the charts the year it was released and remained there for 4 weeks. Some have maintained that it isn't a real Christmas song, as it focuses on unemployment - but I disagree. I would argue that being poor feels even worse at Christmas than the rest of the year, especially when kids are involved.
The stark simplicity of this song is almost guaranteed to make you cry, unless you're ACTUALLY the Grinch. Kid doesn't get Christmas because her parent got laid off? That's HARSH.
Okay, let's take a step back from the heart wrenching music. How about a folk classic? I'm particularly fond of Joni Mitchell's song "River," which was on her album Blue in 1971 but was never released as a single - even though its one of her most popular tracks now. Though the lyrics point towards a failed relationship (I'm so hard to handle/I'm selfish and I'm sad/Now I've lost the best baby/that I've ever had), which most people could relate to, I find that the quiet yearning to run away from the chaos is also a strong theme.
Who doesn't wish they could escape the ruckus surrounding the holidays? Office parties, family parties, buying gifts, making food, and having to answer questions like "So are you still single?" and "Have you got a job yet?" at family gatherings. We all wish we had a river to skate away on - or if you can't skate, scramble and claw your way across the ice, because hypothermia and frost bite are less painful than drunk coworkers and invasive personal questions.
For those who have had to endure the holidays after a breakup, "Blue Christmas" is a familiar and appropriate tune. It was written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson, and first recorded by Doye O'Dell in 1948. Several different versions ensued, but the most familiar and beloved recording is Elvis Presley's in 1957. On a music theory note, this version added "blue notes," which are notes outside the standard key and the basis of jazz music - a clever hidden musical pun!
Many newly single have belted this out at karaoke night in December, I have no doubt. Just make sure your ex will never, ever find out.
What are your favourite sad holiday songs?
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