I recorded this years ago at Stinky Cheese Studios. At the time, I lived with a Frenchman who believed you should never refrigerate your cheese. The studio (a desk with an 8-track cassette recorder and drum machine) was right next to the kitchen, thus the name "Stinky Cheese" I put the song on a little holiday CD that I mainly sold at my shows. So, I was surprised when I saw that "Christmas is the Saddest Day of the Year" made Entertainment Weekly's "100 Greatest Down-and-Out-on- Christmas Songs" It was number 10, right above William S. Burroughs' ''A Junkie's Christmas"! I was proud. Actually, I think the song is more wistful than depressing. Although, I did kind of shed a tear when I heard it today. I miss my parents.
Christmas is the Saddest Day of the Year.
Everything's so tinsel-bright and new
Giant snowflakes fill Fifth Avenue
Window shoppers whistling merry tunes
Wait in line to get a better view
Of something
That makes them feel alive
Like when they were a child
Waiting for the gifts to open
A round of "Jingle Bells"
Wish your loved ones well
Wish that you could be there with them
Christmas is the saddest day of the year
Carriage ride past skaters in the park
Buildings reaching up to neon stars
Lovers bundled up against the cold
Visions of sweet sugarplums at home
Or something
That makes you feel apart
And warms a jaded heart
Waited to restore your faith in
A verse of "Silent Night"
Tuck the child in tight
Wish that you could be there again
Christmas is the saddest day of the year
A round of "Jingle Bells"
Wish your loved ones well
Wish that you could be there with them
And make you feel alive
Like when you were a child
Waiting for the gifts to open
Christmas is the saddest day of the year
Sobule/Mastro
Great lyrics Jill. I could listen to your voice all day.
Such poignant lyrics. Plus that really nice chord change. What a wonderful tune.
I’ve always thought that this is one of the best christmas songs of all time. Wouldn’t be Christmas without it.