I tried to avoid Christmas again, but am failing, so oh well, I’ll dive into this: Xmas songs. Let’s face it, most rock Christmas songs are horrible. The covers of carols are universally rotten. No Bruce Springsteen cannot put it off. Traditional carols just don’t lend themselves to a rock makeover. A few artists have done great jobs, but they tend not to be playing rock: Welcome Christmas by Love Spirals Downwards is breathtaking while God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman by Loreena McKennitt is for my money the finest Christmas song ever recorded. But if we are talking rock, well, it only works when they write something new, and then it usually fails. But there’s been some successes, and I’ve got them, even if some are barely rock. There is a lot more anger and sadness in these songs than celebration, but then I guess anger and sadness is why we need celebrations. Here are the top ten original rock Xmas tunes.
Honorable mention to Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight) just because it is a Xmas song by The Ramones, and another to Ring Out, Solstice Bells by Jethro Tull which isn’t technically a Christmas song.
#10 The Season’s Upon Us (Dropkick Murphys)
Feeling cynical? Here’s your song. Hate being with your relatives, and have good reason for that? Here you go.
#9 I Won’t Be Home For Christmas (Blink 182)
Another song where Xmas is not taken as a good thing, but done with humor. And it isn’t others who mess it up, but our protagonist who just can’t deal with the trappings of the holiday. Merry Christmas from jail.
#8 Father Christmas (The Kinks)
The first of several songs about inequality on this list. The Kinks do it with force, as the poor kids need to mug Santa to get by, as they don’t have the luxury of toys.
#7 2000 Miles (The Pretenders)
A song for those of us lost in tragedy. She sings for someone dead, who will not be coming back at Christmastime. Yeah, this one hurts, but then it should.
#6 A Christmas Song (Jethro Tull)
The second song on the list on income inequality. Ian Anderson suggests people listen to what Jesus said and follow that, but he realizes they probably won’t.
#5 Fairytale of New York (The Pogues)
A very dark song of two people who once had hope now having nothing. Life can do that to you. If you need to commiserate with others who have lost their dreams, this is your song.
#4 I Believe In Father Christmas (Greg Lake)
A mixed message song, with dark lyrics being sung to triumphant horns. “Hallelujah, Noel, be it heaven or hell, the Christmas we get we deserve.”
#3 Christmas (The Who)
Not really a stand alone song, but an important one in the rock opera about the deaf, dumb, and blind false messiah. Like most songs on this list, it isn’t happy.
#2 Christmas (Blue Traveler)
Yes, a hopeful Christmas song and one that really carries the season. It starts with someone feeling lost and in need of a miracle and he gets the only kind of miracle anyone ever does, and embraces the season. A lovely song.
#1 Another Christmas Song (Jethro Tull)
A subtle song open to interpretation, Jethro Tull gives a nod to tradition. While acknowledging the problems, “the wars” both public and private, Jethro Tull suggests that it is always time for another Christmas song.