Christmas
Blues Traveler (Holiday) 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 Chanukah or Kwanza
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
La da da da da da da da da
Laha da da da da
Laha 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 its 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
La da da da da da da da da da
Laha 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...
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
Blues Traveler (Holiday)'s song "Christmas" is a contemplative and reflective piece that expresses the uncertainty and longing that often accompany the holiday season. The song opens with a series of questions and observations about the meaning of Christmas, with lead singer John Popper asking, "If this is feeling merry/How much longer must it last?" He expresses his desire to be carried away from his sense of doubt and disappointment, but acknowledges the unlikeliness of a miracle. Instead, he joins in with those celebrating various holidays and marks the occasion with his own personal interpretation of Christmas.
The lyrics go on to describe the sense of comfort and nostalgia that many people feel during this time of year. Popper suggests that the emotions associated with Christmas build up over time and become a part of our identity, with each year's celebrations contributing to an evolving understanding of the holiday. He sings of "harvesting love among your woes," implying that Christmas has the power to redeem even the hardest of times. Popper then turns his attention to the broader message of Christmas, calling for "peace on earth to everyone/And abundance to everyone you're with."
Overall, the song presents a complex and nuanced view of Christmas, suggesting that it means different things to different people and that its power lies in its ability to evoke a range of emotions and memories.
Line by Line Meaning
Comes the time for Christmas
The Christmas season has arrived
And I really have to ask
The singer is questioning whether the holiday season truly brings happiness
If this is feeling merry
The singer is asking if the happiness associated with Christmas is genuine
How much longer must it last
The singer is questioning why Christmas must last as long as it does
I wish a one horse open sleigh
The singer wishes for an escape from the holiday season
Would come carry me away
The singer wants to be taken away from the holiday season and its obligations
But I've been waiting here all day
The singer has been waiting for a way out of Christmas all day
And one just hasn't come my way
The singer has not found a way to escape Christmas
Now excuse me if I'm not being reverent
The singer acknowledges disrespecting the holiday season
But I was hoping for a miracle to hold me, wash me
The singer wants a miracle to change their perspective and cleanse them of doubt
Save me from my righteous doubt as I watch helpless
The singer is struggling with feelings of doubt and helplessness during the holiday season
And everybody sings
The singer is reflecting on the universal celebration of the winter season
If it's Chanukah or Kwanza
The singer acknowledges other holiday celebrations during the same time of year
Solstice, harvest or December twenty-fifth
The singer recognizes the different names and meanings associated with the holiday season
Peace on earth to everyone
The singer is hoping for peace for everyone during the holiday season
And abundance to everyone you're with
The singer hopes for abundance and joy for all those celebrating together
Comes the time for Christmas
The Christmas season is upon us
And as you raise your Yuletide flask
The singer acknowledges the tradition of drinking during the holiday season
There's like this feeling that you carry
The singer describes the feeling that comes with the holiday season
As if from every Christmas past
The feeling grows each year due to past holiday experiences
It's as if each year it grows
The feeling of the holiday season grows each year
It's like you feel it in your toes
The feeling of the holiday season is all-encompassing
And on and on your carol goes
The singer's enthusiasm for the holiday season continues to build
Harvesting love among your woes
The singer recognizes the difficulties that come with the holiday season but chooses to focus on love
I want to buy into the benevolent
The singer wants to believe in the goodness of the holiday season
And I was hoping for a miracle to hold me, wash me
The singer is still searching for a transformative experience during the holiday season
Make me know what it's about
The singer wants to understand the true meaning of the holiday season
As the longing in me makes me want to sing
Despite doubts and struggles, the singer still feels compelled to celebrate
Noel or Navidad
The singer acknowledges the different words used to describe Christmas in different cultures
Season celebration or just the end of the year
The holiday season can mean different things to different people
Christmas can mean anything
Christmas has different meanings for different people
And I mean to keep its hope forever near
The singer wants the positive feelings of Christmas to last throughout the year
As if a cold and frozen soul is warm to love
The singer compares the transformative power of Christmas to how love can warm a cold heart
By loves own hand
Love is the driving force behind the transformation
So goes the prayer if for a day peace on earth
The prayer for peace on earth during the holiday season
And good will to man...
...and goodwill to all
But I've been waiting here all day
The singer is still waiting for an escape from Christmas
And one just hasn't come my way
The singer has not found a way to escape the holiday season
I wish a one horse open sleigh would come carry me away
The singer still wants to escape the holiday season
And I'll keep waiting through next May
The singer will continue to wait for an escape from Christmas regardless of how long it takes
Until Christmas comes my way
The singer will wait for Christmas to pass before finding relief
Contributed by James K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@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 can’t find it anywhere as a single and It’s 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
It’s the Trey Anastasio melody. Goods bumps for so many
@bwremax
This has been my favorite holiday song for 25 years now.
@DrBleepBlip
Same!