Frizzell was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, in 1941. He began performing in his brother's show at the age of 12. He toured with his brother throughout the 1950s and 1960s and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He signed with Columbia Records in 1970 and finally achieved solo success, placing the single "I Just Can't Help Believing" on the Billboard top-40 country charts.
Frizzell appeared regularly on Buck Owens' All American TV Show during the 1970s, and recorded for Capitol Records. In 1981, he recorded his first number-one country hit, "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma," a duet with Shelly West. The song won the Country Music Association's "Song of the Year" and "Vocal Duet of the Year" awards in 1981 and was featured in Clint Eastwood's film Any Which Way You Can. Frizzell and West also won the Academy of Country Music award for "Vocal Duo of the Year" in 1981 and 1982.
In 1982, Frizzell hit number-one on the country charts with the solo single, "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino (to Decorate Our Home)", which was nominated for Song of the Year in the 1982 Grammy Awards. He continued to tour and record with West until 1986.
After he parted ways with Shelly West, Frizzell continued to record solo albums, but he has not kept up the phenomenal popularity he commanded during the early 1980s. He is currently touring and working on a television tribute to his late brother, Lefty Frizzell.
Blue Christmas
David Frizzell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be so blue thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmastree
Won′t be the same dear, if you're not here with me
And the when those blue snowflakes start fallin'
That′s when those blue memories start callin′
You'll be doin′ all right, with your Christmas of white
The lyrics of David Frizzell's "Blue Christmas" song poignantly capture the loneliness and heartache that some people may feel during the holiday season. The singer admits that he will have a "blue Christmas" without his loved one, and he will think about that person with sadness. He notes that even the decorations on the tree won't be the same, as they will lack the special quality that his beloved brought to the holiday.
The song goes on to paint an understated yet powerful image of the singer's pain, as he speaks of blue snowflakes and blue memories. The metaphor of the snowflakes calling forth memories amplifies the sense of longing and makes it clear that while the world outside may be white and cheery, the singer's heart is anything but. The repetition of the word "blue" underscores the depth of feeling, as if the pain is so intense that one word alone isn't sufficient to describe it.
Overall, "Blue Christmas" is a poignant song that captures the melancholy that can accompany the holiday season. By acknowledging the sadness that some people feel during this time, the song helps listeners feel seen and understood.
Line by Line Meaning
I’ll have a Blue Christmas without you
I'll feel sad during Christmas without you around.
I'll be so blue thinking about you
I'll be consumed with a profound sense of sadness when I contemplate your absence.
Decorations of red on a green Christmastree
The traditional decorations on a Christmas tree will not evoke the same festive atmosphere for me without you here to share it.
Won′t be the same dear, if you're not here with me
The holiday season won't be as enjoyable without you by my side, my dear.
And when those blue snowflakes start fallin'
As soon as the snow starts to fall around me during the holiday season, I will be reminded of my loneliness.
That′s when those blue memories start callin′
The sight of snowflakes during Christmas will trigger memories of you and make me feel blue.
You'll be doin′ all right, with your Christmas of white
You will enjoy your white Christmas, but I will still feel down and lonely.
But I'll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas
Despite my attempts to make the most of it, my Christmas will be tinged with blue and the sadness of your absence.
Writer(s): Hayes Billy, Johnson Jay W
Contributed by Kylie H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.