Christmas Ain't Christmas
Aretha Franklin (Holiday) Lyrics
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Just ain't Christmas
Without the one you love
New Years
Just ain't New Years
Without the one you love
Underneath the mistletoe
Last year this time
Now I'm staying home alone
And my house is not a home
Without that girl of mine
Christmas
Just ain't Christmas
Without the one you love
And New Years
Just ain't New Years
Without the one you love
Twelve o'clock
And all is well
And I was doing
Oh, so swell
Last year, this time
Goin' shopping
With friends together
Making vows
To leave each other
Never
It was a waste of time
Christmas
Just ain't Christmas
Without the one you love
New Years
Just ain't New Years
Without the one you love
Christmas
Just ain't Christmas
Without the one you love
New Years
Just ain't New Years
Without the one you love
Christmas
Just ain't Christmas
Without the one you love
New Years
Just ain't New Years
Without the one you love
Aretha Franklin's song "Christmas Ain't Christmas" is a poignant ballad about the agony of being alone during the holiday season. The song speaks directly to the heart of those who have lost their loved ones, as it emphasizes how Christmas and New Year's just aren't the same without them.
Throughout the song, Franklin emphasizes how her home is not a home without the girl she loved. She then goes on to recall how she used to go shopping with her friends, making vows to never leave each other. However, this year she's alone, and these memories no longer hold the same value. The most anguishing lyrics occur in the refrain, where she repeatedly sings that "Christmas just ain't Christmas without the one you love."
The song's use of imagery is brilliant in conveying its message effectively. Franklin employs mistletoe as a symbol of love, and when she sees other people underneath it, it only reminds her of her loss. She also talks about the time of day, with the midnight hour being a reminder of how the past year has ended, and how she's no longer with the one she loves. Overall, the song's lyrics and message are deeply impactful and relatable for those who experience loneliness during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
Christmas
The holiday season
Just ain't Christmas
Feels incomplete without someone special
Without the one you love
In the absence of a significant other
New Years
The start of a new year
Just ain't New Years
Feels incomplete without someone special
Underneath the mistletoe
A holiday tradition
I saw a face all aglow
A happy, glowing expression
Last year this time
A previous holiday season
Now I'm staying home alone
Spending the holiday alone
And my house is not a home
Home feels empty and incomplete
Without that girl of mine
Missing a specific person
Twelve o'clock
The start of a new day
And all is well
Everything seems fine
And I was doing
Feeling
Oh, so swell
Very good
Goin' shopping
Engaging in a common holiday activity
With friends together
In the company of friends
Making vows
Promising each other
To leave each other
To never part ways
Never
Not ever
It was a waste of time
The promise was not kept
Contributed by Juliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.