Sad Christmas Songs

Subject: Sad Christmas Songs
From:
Date: 24 Sep 97 - 02:51 PM

I found a set of Christmas CD's and one of them was recorded by Judy Garland. There is a song called, "After The Holidays" and my brother said that it is a very sad song in which the person is asking the loved one to please stay with her through the holidays so they won't be so difficult. As I bought this for a shower gift, I'm going to have to wait to "borrow" it so I can listen to it! At any rate, can't remember who was thinking about putting together a CD of Morose music for Christmas, but this might be a consideration?

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Ron K
Date: 24 Sep 97 - 07:18 PM

Perhaps the saddest Christmas song is Stan Rogers "FIRST CHRISTMAS AWAY FROM HOME". The first year I didn't go home, I was listening to the radio and on CBC there was this live broadcast from Sylvia Tyson's home. Stan did this song and it was almost enough to set me to driving the 1000 or so miles to get home.

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Ferrara
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 07:14 AM

For me (I'm showing my age) the song that came to mind immediately was "Blue Christmas" as sung by Elvis Presley.

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: pete savage
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 12:41 PM

when i was in the navy, and potentially wouldn't be home for christmas, the song that would often bring tears to my eyes was "i'll be home for christmas", when the singer got to the line... "...if only in my dreams."

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Bert
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 01:17 PM

Kind of reminds me of "the miner's dream of home" which I know is a New Year song but still seasonal.

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Earl
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 01:18 PM

John Prine's "Christmas in Prison" is pretty sad.

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: PattyG
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 02:41 PM

Can you direct me to the lyrics of "Christmas in Prison"? Have never heard of this one. A Johnny Cash song, by any chance?:) BTW, I started this thread and just realized I didn't sign my name - sorry, I hate that.

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Tim
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 02:58 PM

I think the saddest Christmas song is "Christmas in the Trenches" by John McLaughlin (the Charlottesville folkie J.M., not the fusion jazz guitar God).

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Karina
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 10:06 PM

A song I have to psyche myself up for before I sing it at Xmas, is "the Little Match Girl" I learned it from an old Irish Rovers Album. It always seems to go over well (if a morose song can do that) at a Xmas concert....and I can't sing it in the wrong mood.

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS IN PRISON (John Prine)^^
From: Earl
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 12:12 AM

Patty, I went looking through the web to find out what album had "Christmas in Prison" and I came across the lyrics.

CHRISTMAS IN PRISON
Written by John Prine
As recorded by John Prine on “Sweet Revenge” (1973)

1. It was Christmas in prison and the food was real good.
We had turkey and pistols carved out of wood,
And I dream of her always, even when I don't dream.
Her name's on my tongue and her blood's in my stream.

CHORUS: Wait a while, eternity.
Old Mother Nature's got nothing on me.
Come to me; run to me; come to me now.
We're rolling, my sweetheart; we're flowing, by God!

2. She reminds me of a chess game with someone I admire,
Or a picnic in the rain after a prairie fire.
Her heart is as big as this whole goddamn jail,
And she's sweeter than saccharine at a drugstore sale. CHORUS

3. The search light in the big yard swings round with the gun,
And spotlights the snowflakes like the dust in the sun.
It's Christmas in prison; there'll be music tonight.
I'll probably get homesick. I love you. Goodnight. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Bob Clayton
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 10:27 AM

Sorry, but "Christmas in the Trenches" is by John McCutcheon, not John McWhatshisnameyousaid. Very good song, but the thrust is not the sadness of Christmas & New Year (there are theories as to why people get morose at that time -- my favorite is the length of the daylight one). The story (a true one) is of a "fraternization with the enemy" which took place in WWI ("The War to End All Wars," an ironic title if there ever was one).

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Don of Poteen
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 03:35 PM

I'd have to agree with CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES. I always do this one at and only at Christmas. Very poignant message! And it was written and performed by John McCutcheon. He actually met some of the soldiers who were there in 1916.

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: pete savage
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 05:34 PM

Any suggestions on where I might find the lyrics and music to "Christmas in the Trenches"? This sounds like a song that I absolutely have to add to our Christmas Album.

Thanks!!

Pete

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES (J McCutcheon)
From: Alex
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 07:24 PM

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES
(John McCutcheon)
As recorded by John McCutcheon on "Water from another Time" (1989)

My name is Francis Tolliver; I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany, to here,
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung.
The frozen fields of France were still; no Christmas song was sung.
Our families back in England were toasting us that day,
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound.
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" Each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me.
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in, in harmony.
The cannons rested silent; the gas clouds rolled no more,
As Christmas brought us respite from the war.

As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent,
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent.
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht." "'Tis 'Silent Night'," says I,
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky.
"There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried.
All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side.
His truce flag like a Christmas star shone on that plain so bright
As he bravely strode unarmed into the night.

Then one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land.
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand.
We shared some secret brandy and wished each other well,
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell.
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home,
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own.
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin,
This curious and unlikely band of men.

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more.
With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war,
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night:
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung.
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung,
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore.

My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell.
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well,
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame,
And on each end of the rifle we're the same.

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: rich r
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 10:55 PM

Christmas in the Trenches can be found on at least 2 of John McCutcheon's recordings, "Winter Solstice" a great holiday album issued back in the 80's and also on "Live At Wolftrap" where he tells the background story as well. Music is in John McCutcheon's "Water From Another Time" songbook.

rich r

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Earl
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 11:59 PM

Christmas in the trenches is a wonderful song.

So is "Fairy Tale of New York" by the Pogues. An incredibly sad Christmas song, yet, in the end, hopeful.

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From:
Date: 27 Sep 97 - 01:37 AM

See the Suicide's Christmas thread I started some time ago that got me some complaint.

Stan Roger's First Christmas, which should have been titled Silver Star, is indeed a sad Christmas song.

Subject: lyr Add: 'ZAT YOU, SANTA CLAUS?^^
From: chet w
Date: 27 Sep 97 - 12:33 PM

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.

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Ron K
Date: 27 Sep 97 - 07:13 PM

Tim, I agree with you about the title of First Christmas. The first time I heard it, I was supposed to work on Chrismas Day in a store, about 500 miles away from home. It really hit me where it hurts.

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 28 Sep 97 - 07:38 PM

Frankie Armstrong's "Anti-Carol"; it's more angry than sad.

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Patty Gates
Date: 29 Sep 97 - 12:01 AM

Earl,

Thank you kindly for the words to "Christmas In Prison." A sad one, indeed:(

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: Wolfgang (Hell)
Date: 29 Sep 97 - 05:03 AM

"Christmas in the trenches" brought tears to my eyes when I read it for the first time. Thanks so much for these lyrics.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Sad Christmas Songs
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 30 Sep 97 - 01:16 PM

Christmas in the Trenches is in the database. It's still a good first place to look.