The Christmas Blues
Dean Martin & Nat King Cole Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'll have a blue Christmas without you
I'll be so blue thinkin' about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
They won't mean a thing if you're not here with me

I'll have a blue Christmas, that's certain
And when that blue heartache starts hurtin'
You'll be doin' all right with your Christmas of white

But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas

I'll have a blue Christmas, that's certain
And when that blue heartache starts hurtin'

You'll be doin' all right with your Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas

Overall Meaning

The Christmas season is a time for sharing love and joy with people we care about. It is a season that calls for celebration with family and friends, and lots of dazzling decorations with bright and vivid colors saturating just about everything. However, for some people, the excitement of this season can be a time of sadness and loneliness because they are unable to spend it with the people they love. This is precisely what the song "The Christmas Blues" by Dean Martin and Nat King Cole conveys. It highlights the bitter-sweet emotions that can come with the holidays.

The lyrics describe feelings of loneliness and sadness associated with being separated from a loved one during the holiday season. The opening line “I’ll have a blue Christmas without you” sets the tone of the song. The use of the word “blue” is used as a metaphor for the singer's sense of sorrow and loss. The decorations of “red on a green Christmas tree” which are usually bright and cheerful represent the outward signs of the holiday, but they are meaningless when the singer is alone. The lyrics create an imagery of a person sitting in a dimly lit room, surrounded by Christmas decorations, but feeling alone nevertheless. The singer expresses his longing to be with his loved one but knows that this is not possible.

The song is a reminder that even during the most joyful of seasons, some people can feel lost and alone. It highlights the significance of the human connection and how much it matters during the holiday season. The song’s emotional depth and beautiful melody make it a classic that continues to resonate with people year after year.

Line by Line Meaning

I'll have a blue Christmas without you
Christmas won't be the same without you, and I'll feel sad and lonely.

I'll be so blue thinkin' about you
The thought of spending Christmas without you makes me feel sad and overwhelmed.

Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
The typical holiday decorations and traditions won't bring me joy or comfort, especially without you present.

They won't mean a thing if you're not here with me
Everything that typically signifies the holiday season doesn't matter to me if you're not here to share it with me.

I'll have a blue Christmas, that's certain
My sadness and longing for you will make it impossible for me to feel happy or merry this Christmas.

And when that blue heartache starts hurtin'
The pain of being without you will become too much for me to bear.

You'll be doin' all right with your Christmas of white
You may be enjoying your holiday season without me, but your happiness won't make up for my sadness.

But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas
Despite the festive colors and traditions, I will still feel sad and alone without you here with me.

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay Johnson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS