Currently, the group comprises singer and harmonica player John Popper, guitarist Chan Kinchla, drummer Brendan Hill, bassist Tad Kinchla and keyboardist Ben Wilson. Tad Kinchla and Ben Wilson joined the band following the death of original bassist Bobby Sheehan in 1999.
While Blues Traveler is best known among fans for their improvisational live shows, the general public is most familiar with the group from their Top 40 singles "Run-Around" and "Hook". They gained mainstream popularity after their fourth studio album four, released in 1994. Sheehan's death and Popper's struggle with obesity put a damper on the group's success, and A&M dropped the band in 2002.
Christmas
Blues Traveler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I really have to ask
If this is feeling merry
How much longer must it last
I wish a one horse open sleigh
Would come carry me away
But I've been waiting here all day
And one just hasn't come my way
But I was hoping for a miracle to hold me, wash me
Save me from my righteous doubt as I watch helpless
And everybody sings
If it's Hanukah or Kwanzaa
Solstice, harvest or December twenty-fifth
Peace on earth to everyone
And abundance to everyone you're with
Laha da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da da da da
La da da da da da da da
Comes the time for Christmas
And as you raise your yuletide flask
There's like this feeling that you carry
As if from every Christmas past
It's as if each year it grows
It's like you feel it in your toes
And on and on your carol goes
Harvesting love among your woes
I want to buy into the benevolent
And I was hoping for a miracle to hold me, wash me
Make me know what it's about
As the longing in me makes me want to sing
Noel or Navidad
Season celebration or just the end of the year
Christmas can mean anything
And I mean to keep it's hope forever near
Laha da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da da da da
La da da da da da da da da
Laha da da da da
As if a cold and frozen soul is warm to love
By loves own hand
So goes the prayer if for a day peace on earth
And good will to man
At twenty below the winter storm it billows
But the fire is so warm inside
And the children while nestled in their pillows
Dream of St. Nicholas's ride
And how the next day they'll get up and they will play
In the still falling Christmas snow
And together we'll celebrate forever
In defiance of the winds that blow
My God in heaven now I feel like I'm seven
And spirit calls to me as well
As if Christmas had made the winter warmer
Made a paradise from what was hell
As if a cold and frozen soul is warm to love
By loves own hand
So goes the prayer if for a day peace on earth
And? good will to man
At twenty below the winter storm it billows
But the fire is so warm inside
And the children while nestled in their pillows
Dream of St. Nicholas's ride
I wish a one horse open sleigh
Would come carry me away
But I've been waiting here all day
And one just hasn't come my way
Now excuse me if I'm not being reverent
But I was hoping for a miracle to hold me, wash me
Save me from my righteous doubt as I watch helpless
And everybody sings
Oh Hanukah or Kwanzaa
Solstice, harvest or December twenty-fifth
Peace on earth to everyone
And abundance to everyone you're with
All hail the savior saint
Glory to the newborn king
Peace on Earth and mercy to man
God and sinners reconciled
And hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
Oh, peace on earth and mercy to man
God and sinners reconciled
I wish a one-horse open sleigh
Would come carry me away
And I'll keep waiting through next May
Until Christmas comes my way
The song "Christmas" by Blues Traveler is a reflective and somewhat melancholic take on the holiday season. The opening verse sets the tone, with the singer questioning the merriment of the season and expressing a sense of weariness with the whole affair. He hopes for an escape in the form of a one-horse open sleigh, but none come.
The song's chorus emphasizes the universality of the holiday season, referencing Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the winter solstice, and December 25th as possible occasions for celebration. The singer wishes "peace on earth to everyone, and abundance to everyone you're with," and emphasizes the importance of hope during this time.
The second verse picks up on the theme of nostalgia and the way that the holiday season is steeped in memory and tradition. The singer notes that each year it feels like the holiday season grows, and he explores the idea that Christmas can mean anything - that it is more about the feelings and sense of togetherness that come with the season than any particular religious or cultural significance.
Overall, "Christmas" is a song that grapples with the complicated emotions that can arise during the holiday season. It acknowledges the commercialization and overwhelming nature of the holiday while also highlighting the importance of hope, tradition, and togetherness.
Line by Line Meaning
Comes the time for Christmas
The time for Christmas is upon us
And I really have to ask
The singer has a question to ask in regards to Christmas
If this is feeling merry
The singer is questioning the joyfulness of Christmas
How much longer must it last
The artist is wondering about the duration of the holiday season
I wish a one horse open sleigh
The artist desires a horse-drawn sleigh ride
Would come carry me away
The singer wants to be taken away by the sleigh ride
But I've been waiting here all day
The singer has been waiting all day for a sleigh ride, but one has not come
And one just hasn't come my way
The artist is disappointed that they haven't gotten a sleigh ride today
Now excuse me if I'm not being reverent
The artist is apologizing in advance for their tone not being completely respectful
But I was hoping for a miracle to hold me, wash me
The artist wants to experience the miracle of Christmas to change their negative emotions
Save me from my righteous doubt as I watch helpless
The singer wants to overcome their doubts and feelings of helplessness
And everybody sings
Everyone is singing
If it's Hanukah or Kwanzaa
Christmas is not the only holiday being celebrated during this time
Solstice, harvest or December twenty-fifth
Other possible holidays during this time include winter solstice or other harvest celebrations in addition to Christmas on December 25th.
Peace on earth to everyone
The singer is wishing peace for all
And abundance to everyone you're with
The artist is hoping everyone is surrounded by abundance
At twenty below the winter storm it billows
There is a severe winter storm happening during the holiday season
But the fire is so warm inside
Despite the cold outside, the singer feels warmth due to a fire located indoors
And the children while nestled in their pillows
Children are tucked into bed and ready to sleep
Dream of St. Nicholas's ride
Children are dreaming of Santa Claus delivering presents
And together we'll celebrate forever
The artist is hoping to celebrate Christmas forever
In defiance of the winds that blow
The artist wants to celebrate despite any obstacles that come their way
My God in heaven now I feel like I'm seven
The singer feels young again, reminiscent of their childhood memories of Christmas
And spirit calls to me as well
The artist feels the spirit of Christmas calling to them
As if Christmas had made the winter warmer
The singer feels that Christmas brings warmth to the cold winter season
Made a paradise from what was hell
The singer feels that Christmas transforms difficult times into something more pleasant
All hail the savior saint
The singer is praising the savior saint
Glory to the newborn king
The artist is giving glory to the newborn king
Peace on Earth and mercy to man
The artist is wishing for peace and mercy to all
God and sinners reconciled
The singer believes that God has reconciled with sinners
Oh, peace on earth and mercy to man
The singer is repeating their desire for peace and mercy
And I mean to keep it's hope forever near
The artist wants to always be hopeful during Christmas time
And I'll keep waiting through next May
The artist is willing to wait until May just to experience Christmas
Until Christmas comes my way
The artist wants to experience the joy of Christmas
Lyrics ยฉ CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOHN C. POPPER, TREY ANASTASIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kastern84
Comes the time for Christmas
And I really have to ask
If this is feeling merry
How much longer must it last
I wish a one horse open sleigh
Would come carry me away
But I've been waiting here all day
And one just hasn't come my way
Now excuse me if I'm not being reverent
But I was hoping for a miracle to hold me, wash me
Save me from my righteous doubt as I watch helpless
And everybody sings
If it's Hanukah or Kwanzaa
Solstice, harvest or December twenty-fifth
Peace on earth to everyone
And abundance to everyone you're with
Laha da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da da da da
La da da da da da da da
Comes the time for Christmas
And as you raise your yuletide flask
There's like this feeling that you carry
As if from every Christmas past
It's as if each year it grows
It's like you feel it in your toes
And on and on your carol goes
Harvesting love among your woes
I want to buy into the benevolent
And I was hoping for a miracle to hold me, wash me
Make me know what it's about
As the longing in me makes me want to sing
Noel or Navidad
Season celebration or just the end of the year
Christmas can mean anything
And I mean to keep it's hope forever near
Laha da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da da da da
La da da da da da da da da
Laha da da da da
As if a cold and frozen soul is warm to love
By loves own hand
So goes the prayer if for a day peace on earth
And good will to man
At twenty below the winter storm it billows
But the fire is so warm inside
And the children while nestled in their pillows
Dream of St. Nicholas's ride
And how the next day they'll get up and they will play
In the still falling Christmas snow
And together we'll celebrate forever
In defiance of the winds that blow
My God in heaven now I feel like I'm seven
And spirit calls to me as well
As if Christmas had made the winter warmer
Made a paradise from what was hell
As if a cold and frozen soul is warm to love
By loves own hand
So goes the prayer if for a day peace on earth
And? good will to man
At twenty below the winter storm it billows
But the fire is so warm inside
And the children while nestled in their pillows
Dream of St. Nicholas's ride
I wish a one horse open sleigh
Would come carry me away
But I've been waiting here all day
And one just hasn't come my way
Now excuse me if I'm not being reverent
But I was hoping for a miracle to hold me, wash me
Save me from my righteous doubt as I watch helpless
And everybody sings
Oh Hanukah or Kwanzaa
Solstice, harvest or December twenty-fifth
Peace on earth to everyone
And abundance to everyone you're with
All hail the savior saint
Glory to the newborn king
Peace on Earth and mercy to man
God and sinners reconciled
And hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
Oh, peace on earth and mercy to man
God and sinners reconciled
I wish a one-horse open sleigh
Would come carry me away
And I'll keep waiting through next May
Until Christmas comes my way
@stormwatcher1299
I hope this video never gets taken down. You canโt find it anywhere as a single and Itโs so epic.
@kastern84
Comes the time for Christmas
And I really have to ask
If this is feeling merry
How much longer must it last
I wish a one horse open sleigh
Would come carry me away
But I've been waiting here all day
And one just hasn't come my way
Now excuse me if I'm not being reverent
But I was hoping for a miracle to hold me, wash me
Save me from my righteous doubt as I watch helpless
And everybody sings
If it's Hanukah or Kwanzaa
Solstice, harvest or December twenty-fifth
Peace on earth to everyone
And abundance to everyone you're with
Laha da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da da da da
La da da da da da da da
Comes the time for Christmas
And as you raise your yuletide flask
There's like this feeling that you carry
As if from every Christmas past
It's as if each year it grows
It's like you feel it in your toes
And on and on your carol goes
Harvesting love among your woes
I want to buy into the benevolent
And I was hoping for a miracle to hold me, wash me
Make me know what it's about
As the longing in me makes me want to sing
Noel or Navidad
Season celebration or just the end of the year
Christmas can mean anything
And I mean to keep it's hope forever near
Laha da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da da da da
La da da da da da da da da
Laha da da da da
As if a cold and frozen soul is warm to love
By loves own hand
So goes the prayer if for a day peace on earth
And good will to man
At twenty below the winter storm it billows
But the fire is so warm inside
And the children while nestled in their pillows
Dream of St. Nicholas's ride
And how the next day they'll get up and they will play
In the still falling Christmas snow
And together we'll celebrate forever
In defiance of the winds that blow
My God in heaven now I feel like I'm seven
And spirit calls to me as well
As if Christmas had made the winter warmer
Made a paradise from what was hell
As if a cold and frozen soul is warm to love
By loves own hand
So goes the prayer if for a day peace on earth
And? good will to man
At twenty below the winter storm it billows
But the fire is so warm inside
And the children while nestled in their pillows
Dream of St. Nicholas's ride
I wish a one horse open sleigh
Would come carry me away
But I've been waiting here all day
And one just hasn't come my way
Now excuse me if I'm not being reverent
But I was hoping for a miracle to hold me, wash me
Save me from my righteous doubt as I watch helpless
And everybody sings
Oh Hanukah or Kwanzaa
Solstice, harvest or December twenty-fifth
Peace on earth to everyone
And abundance to everyone you're with
All hail the savior saint
Glory to the newborn king
Peace on Earth and mercy to man
God and sinners reconciled
And hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
Oh, peace on earth and mercy to man
God and sinners reconciled
I wish a one-horse open sleigh
Would come carry me away
And I'll keep waiting through next May
Until Christmas comes my way
@calvinbutler1919
Lyric guy, you are the unsung hero we all need.
@nuaru100
This song gives me goosebumps. I'm an atheist, but still totally understand how this time of year can affect us all, if we let it. I feel it, too.
@XravensunsetX
same here
@texican1048
Nobody cares if you're atheist.
@nuaru100
@Texican Nobody cares if you are Texican.
@healergirlphilly
Itโs the Trey Anastasio melody. Goods bumps for so many
@bwremax
This has been my favorite holiday song for 25 years now.
@DrBleepBlip
Same!