P-Boi Forum: Top 50 Holiday Songs

[Mally]

After I submitted my list I realized I'd forgotten about "What Child Is This?" but then I figured it would have only been #26 or #27 anyway.

Okay I admit it, I thought the song was about merry gentlemen too.

[Lindy]

38. Little Drummer Boy - Traditional - 43 points
(3 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #3 Ragingape)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98JrWm9IMMA

"The Little Drummer Boy" is a Christmas song, also known as "Carol of the Drum." The lyrics tell the apocryphal story of a poor young boy who, unable to afford a gift for the infant Jesus, plays his drum for the newborn with the Virgin Mary's approval. The story is somewhat similar to an old twelfth-century legend retold by Anatole France as Le jongleur de Notre-Dame (The Juggler of Notre Dame), which was adapted into an opera in 1902 by Jules Massenet. In the French legend, however, a juggler juggles before the statue of the Virgin Mary. In The Little Drummer Boy, a drummer boy plays on his drum for the newborn Baby Jesus.

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

[Lindy]

37. Deck the Halls - Traditional - 43 points
(5 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #13 n88n8888)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO1yR5-wJXQ

The tune is that of an old Welsh air, first found in a musical manuscript by Welsh harpest John Parry Dall (1710 - 1782), but undoubtedly much older than that. The current lyrics are a very free translation of the Welsh song Nos Galan, sung at New Years Eve. In the eighteenth century the tune spread widely, with Mozart using it in a piano and violin concerto. Versions use "Deck the Halls" instead of "Deck the Hall," the more correct title. Also there is a common misconception as regards to the lyrics. It is not "fa la la la la, la la la la " But "Fa la la la la, fa la la la"

The first publication date of Deck the Halls is 1881. The author is unknown but the words are said to originate in America.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

[Lindy]

36. Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 - Trans Siberian Orchestra - 46 points
(3 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #3 Shamrock)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgB7OSVYFYM

Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" is an instrumental medley of "Carol of the Bells" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" first released on the Savatage album Dead Winter Dead in 1995. It was re-released by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a side project by several Savatage members, on TSO's 1996 debut album Christmas Eve and Other Stories. It is about a lone cello player playing a forgotten Christmas carol in the war-torn Sarajevo. The cellist that the story refers to is Vedran Smailović.

The best explanation about "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" comes from Paul O'Neill in an interview published on ChristianityToday.com:

"... We heard about this cello player born in Sarajevo many years ago who left when he was fairly young to go on to become a well-respected musician, playing with various symphonies throughout Europe. Many decades later, he returned to Sarajevo as an elderly man—at the height of the Bosnian War, only to find his city in complete ruins.

I think what most broke this man's heart was that the destruction was not done by some outside invader or natural disaster—it was done by his own people. At that time, Serbs were shelling Sarajevo every night. Rather than head for the bomb shelters like his family and neighbors, this man went to the town square, climbed onto a pile of rubble that had once been the fountain, took out his cello, and played Mozart and Beethoven as the city was bombed.

He came every night and began playing Christmas carols from that same spot. It was just such a powerful image—a white-haired man silhouetted against the cannon fire, playing timeless melodies to both sides of the conflict amid the rubble and devastation of the city he loves. Some time later, a reporter traced him down to ask why he did this insanely stupid thing. The old man said that it was his way of proving that despite all evidence to the contrary, the spirit of humanity was still alive in that place.

The song basically wrapped itself around him. We used some of the oldest Christmas melodies we could find, like "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Carol of the Bells" (which is from the Ukraine, near that region). The orchestra represents one side, the rock band the other, and the single cello represents that single individual, that spark of hope. ..."

The song is often misnamed as "Carol of the Bells" (due to its use of the melody) on file-sharing networks.

Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 was played faintly in the TNA Turning Point 2006 recap on the December 14, 2025 edition of TNA iMPACT!.

[Lindy]

35. O Christmas Tree - Traditional - 46 points
(3 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #2 Ragingape)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icX2AZpZ0tM

O Christmas Tree (or in German, "O Tannenbaum") is a traditional German Christmas Carol. The author of the lyrics is unknown as is the composer of the lyrics. The tradition of bringing a tree inside at Christmas and decorating it with candy, baubles and bells was started in the nineteenth century and is immortalized in the carol O Christmas Tree lyrics. A Tannenbaum is a fir tree (German die Tanne) or Christmas tree (der Weihnachtsbaum). Its evergreen qualities have long inspired musicians to write several "Tannenbaum" songs in German.

An instrumental version of "O Tannenbaum" was featured in "A Charlie Brown Christmas," a very popular Christmas tv show that was created and first aired in 1965 and continues to air during the holiday season.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!

[Lindy]

34. Winter Wonderland - Traditional - 46 points
(4 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #4 Molly)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6cijEktQAE

"Winter Wonderland" is a pop standard written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith. It has been recorded many different times by such artists as Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, Karen Carpenter and Cyndi Lauper. Due to its seasonal theme, "Winter Wonderland" is often regarded as a Christmas song on the Northern Hemisphere, although the holiday itself is never mentioned in the lyrics.

Being that a Floridian orange grower was the only well-known person by the name of "Parson Brown" at the time the song was composed, one can assume that "Parson" is used as a title, instead of a first name. In the period when this song was written, parsons (now known as a Protestant minister) often travelled among small rural towns to perform wedding ceremonies for denominational followers who did not have a local minister of their faith. Therefore, the children are most likely pretending that their snowman is a Parson with the surname "Brown," which would be visiting the town again in the future.

Sleigh bells ring
are you listening
in the lane
snow is glistening
A beautiful sight
we're happy tonight
walking in a winter wonderland

Gone away is the bluebird
here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song
as we go along
walking in a winter wonderland

In the meadow we can build a snowman
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?
we'll say: No man
But you can do the job
when you're in town

Later on
we'll conspire
as we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
the plans that we've made
walking in a winter wonderland

[Lindy]

33. Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis - Tom Waits - 48 points
(3 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #2 Emily)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slIiLm3NE08

Despite the title, the lyrics never mention or have a holiday theme to them. Since its first recording it has been covered by such artists as The Ataris and Neko Case.

hey charlie i'm pregnant
and living on the 9th street
right above a dirty bookstore
of euclid avenue
and i stopped takin dope
and i quit drinkin whiskey
and my old man plays the trombone
and works out at the track

and he says that he loves me
even though its not his baby
and he says that he'll raise him up
like he would his own son
and he gave me a ring
that was worn by his mother
and he takes me out dancin
every saturday night.

and hey charlie i think about you
everytime i pass a fillin station
om account of all the grease
you used to wear in your hair
and i still have that record
of little anthony & the imperials
but someone stole my record player
now how do you like that?

hey charlie i almost went crazy
after mario got busted
so i went back to omaha to
live with my folks
but everyone i used to know
was either dead or in prison
so i came back to minneapolis
this time i think i'm gonna stay.

hey charlie i think i'm happy
for the first time since my accident
and i wish i had all the money
that we used to spend on dope
i'd buy me a used car lot
and i wouldn't sell any of em
i'd just drive a different car
every day, dependin on how
i feel

hey charlie for chrissakes
do you want to know the
truth of it?
i don't have a husband
he don't play the trombone
and i need to borrow money
to pay this lawyer
and charlie, hey
i'll be eligible for parole
come valentines day

[Lindy]

32. Skating - Vince Guaraldi Trio - 48 points
(2 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #1 endlessmike)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MgNbf61lV4

The instrumental song "Skating" appears on the album A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio, released in 1965 as the soundtrack to the Christmas television special of the same name. It is among the most popular holiday albums of all time. There was also a Book-and-Record set featuring music, dialogue and stills from the Christmas special released on a 78 RPM vinyl record by CBS Records.

[Lindy]

31. River - Joni Mitchell - 49 points
(2 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #1 Emily)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXQDszGZZGY

"River" is a song by Joni Mitchell, from her 1971 album Blue. Although never released as a single, it has become one of Mitchell's most famous songs.

In the song, Mitchell ruminates on the recent breakup of a romantic relationship. Christmas is nearing, and Mitchell longs to escape her emotional bonds, openly wishing "I wish I had a river / I could skate away on," a river so long she "could teach my feet to fly." Furthermore, Mitchell's Canadian past is reflected upon, as her current warm (presumably Californian) climes do not offer her that ice or that chance.

Keeping with the Christmas theme of the lyrics, the song begins with an interpolation of the traditional Christmas song "Jingle Bells".

Although merely set near Christmastime rather than being about Christmas as such, the song has become something of a modern Christmas standard. "River" is one of the most widely covered songs in Mitchell's oeuvre, frequently appearing on albums of Christmas music by pop, folk and jazz artists.

Its coming on christmas
Theyre cutting down trees
Theyre putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it dont snow here
It stays pretty green
Im going to make a lot of money
Then Im going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry

[Lindy]

30. What's This - Danny Elfman, from The Nightmare Before Christmas -51 points
(4 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #8 Shamrock)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEK5w2MWB1Y

While wandering in the woods after one such Halloween, with his loyal ghost dog, Zero, Jack discovers a circle of trees he has never seen before. Each tree has a door on it but Jack is immediately attracted to the door in the shape of a Christmas tree. When Jack opens this Christmas tree door, he is sucked into a town filled with snow, lights, and happiness. Jack is mesmerized by all the colors and cheerfulness, and realizes that this may be what he has been searching for.

What's this? What's this?
There's color everywhere
What's this?
There's white things in the air
What's this?
I can't believe my eyes
I must be dreaming
Wake up, Jack, this isn't fair
What's this?

What's this? What's this?
There's something very wrong
What's this?
There's people singing songs

What's this?
The streets are lined with
Little creatures laughing
Everybody seems so happy
Have I possibly gone daffy?
What is this?
What's this?

[Lindy]

29. The Chanukah Song - Adam Sandler -53 points
(6 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #5 Alicia)

http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Sandler,_Adam/Videos/67824/

The Chanukah Song is a series of songs written and performed by Adam Sandler. The theme of the songs is that Jewish children feel isolated during the Christmas season, so Sandler lists popular Jewish celebrities.

Persons referenced in The Chanukah Song (1994):

* Jon 'Bowzer' Bauman
* Rod Carew (Sandler cites Carew as a convert to Judaism; Carew married a Jewish woman, but never converted to Judaism)
* Kirk Douglas
* Harrison Ford ("A quarter Jewish, not too shabby") (Sandler makes an error here, as Ford's mother is actually fully Jewish)
* Goldie Hawn (half-Jewish; "Paul Newman's half-Jewish, Goldie Hawn is too. Put them together, what a fine lookin' Jew!")
* Paul Newman (half-Jewish, see Hawn above)
* Leonard Nimoy ("Mr. Spock")
* David Lee Roth
* Howard Schultz ("the owner of the Seattle SuperSon-icahs")
* William Shatner ("Captain Kirk")
* Dinah Shore
* Henry Winkler ("Arthur Fonzarelli")

On an episode of The Office, Michael Scott parodies Sandler by performing "The Diwali Song" during a Hindu Diwali festival.

Put on your yalmulka, here comes hanukkah
Its so much fun-akkah to celebrate hanukkah,

Hanukkah is the festival of lights,
Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights.

When you feel like the only kid in town without a x-mas tree, heres a list of
People who are jewish, just like you and me:

David lee roth lights the menorrah,
So do james caan, kirk douglas, and the late dinah shore-ah

Guess who eats together at the karnickey deli,
Bowzer from sha-na-na, and arthur fonzerrelli.

[Lindy]

Happy Birthday!

28. Frosty the Snowman - Traditional -54 points
(4 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #6 Molly)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDLkIdXU--o

"Frosty the Snowman" is a popular Christmas song written by Steve "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson in 1950. Like Jingle Bells and several other songs about winter, Frosty the Snowman is considered to be a Christmas song despite not mentioning Christmas at all. It was written after Gene Autry recorded "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and the single sold 2 million copies.

In 1969, the Rankin-Bass company produced a thirty-minute animated television special of Frosty the Snowman that featured the voices of comedians Jimmy Durante as narrator and Jackie Vernon as the title character and featured Durante singing the best version of the song ever made.

Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul,
With a corncob pipe and a button nose,
And two eyes made out of coal.
Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale, they say,
He was made of snow but the children
know how he came to life one day.
There must have been some magic in that
Old silk hat they found.
For when they placed it on his head,
He began to dance around.

O, Frosty the snowman
Was alive as he could be,
And the children say he could laugh
And play just the same as you and me.
Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.
Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.

[Lindy]

27. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee -61 points
(8 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #12 Sami)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtF2aXQRyLg

'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' was written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958 on Decca 9-30776. The song did not become a Christmas hit until 1960. Lee was only 13 when she recorded "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" in 1958, starting a career that eventually got her into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Featuring Lee's boisterous voice and Hank Garland's ringing guitar, "Rockin'" is consistently listed among the most popular holiday songs of all time. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) lists it as the 14th most performed holiday song over the past five years.


Rockin' around the Christmas tree
at the Christmas party hop.
Mistletoe hung where you can see
ev'ry couple tries to stop.

Rockin' around the Christmas tree,
let the Christmas spirit ring.
Latter we'll have some pumpkin pie
and we'll do some caroling.

You will get a sentimental feeling
when you hear voices singing
"Let's be jolly,
Deck the halls with boughs of holly."

Rockin' around the Christmas Tree.
Have a happy holiday.
Ev'ryone dancing merrily
in the new old fashioned way.

[Algernon]

I'm hitting the sack now, but I have to express appreciation for this list before I go! Thanks for taking up so much of your holiday time posting about Christmas songs, Lindy!

And Merry Holidays, P-Boinkers.
_________________
From: Algernon

[Lindy]

26. Christmas at Ground Zero - Weird Al Yankovic -63 points
(6 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #11 Lindy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_CP3OKWGYE

Christmas At Ground Zero is an original song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is done in the style of a Christmas carol, with bells and a saxophone section, but the lyrics describe a situation where a nuclear war is breaking out and humanity is about to end. It is one of the darker songs in Yankovic's output. The music video was Yankovic's directing debut. It's a montage of old film, television and news footage, some of which depicts Christmas cheer and some a nuclear attack, capped off with a live-action scene (filmed in the Bronx, New York) of Yankovic and some carolers singing with rubble around them.

The song, traditionally played around Christmas on the radio, found its way out of rotation after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The term ground zero came to describe the former site of the World Trade Center in New York City, which was destroyed that day. The song reentered popular culture recently due to the 2006 North Korean nuclear test.

It's Christmas at Ground Zero
There's music in the air
The sleigh bells are ringin' and the carolers are singin'
While the air raid sirens blare

It's Christmas at Ground Zero
The button has been pressed
The radio just let us know
That this is not a test

Everywhere the atom bombs are droppin'
It's the end of all humanity
No more time for last minute shoppin'
It's time to face your final destiny

[Lindy]

That's all for tonight folks. 25-1 will be put up sporadically tomorrow. Or at least most of them will be up depending on how much I have to drink tomorrow night.

Happy Christmas everyone!
_________________

[Nicholas]

[Nicholas]

[DGMacphee]

[emily]

I'm kind of sad to see my #1 and #2 up in the 30's, but I'm shocked the Tom Waits song made the list at all, so it all works out.

Also, I'd like to point out that Rudolph made my list only with the stipulation that it be performed by the California Raisins at all times.


Oh, and whomever said Wonderful Christmastime is the worst Christmas song ever, I'm in complete agreement.