I don't know if this is a particularly "sad" Christmas song, but it easily qualifies as scary and certainly alternative. It is found on the jazz christmas album on Stash Records.

'ZAT YOU, SANTA CLAUS? As recorded by Louis Armstrong

'Zat you, Santa Claus?

Gifts I'm preparin' for some Christmas sharin',
But I pause because,
Hangin' my stockin', I can hear a knockin'.
'Zat you, Santa Claus?

Sure is dark out; ain't the slightest spark out.
'Pon my clackin' jaws!
Who's there? Who is it stoppin' for a visit?
'Zat you, Santa Claus?

Are you bringin' a present for me,
Something pleasantly pleasant for me?
Then it's just what I've been waitin' for.
Would you mind slippin' it under the door?

Cold winds are howlin', or could that be growlin'?
My legs feel like straws.
My my oh me my, kindly would you reply?
'Zat you, Santa Claus?

Hangin' the stockin', I can hear a knockin'.
'Zat you, Santa Claus?

I say, who's there? Who is it? Are you stoppin' for a visit?
'Zat you, Santa Claus?

Oh there, Santa, you gave me a scare.
Now stop teasin' 'cause I know you're there.
We don't believe in no goblins today,
But I can't explain why I'm shakin' that way.

Bet I can see ol' Santa in the keyhole.
I'll get to the cause.
One peek and I'll try there; oh-oh, there's an eye there!
'Zat you, Santa Claus?

Please, please, pity my knees!
Say that's you, Santa Claus!

Also, check out the two wonderful and wacky cd's by Dan Hicks and the Christmas Jug Band.

Hope somebody likes this one.

Chet W.

HTML line breaks added. -JoeClone, 2-Aug-01.