Gatsbys American Dream is a seattle-based rock band. Since their founding i… Read Full Bio ↴Gatsbys American Dream is a seattle-based rock band. Since their founding in 2002, they have written four albums with a fifth in the works. They have also appeared on a few compilations with original songs and covers. Gatsbys American Dream gets their name from The Great Gatsby, a book written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Although it’s widely agreed the band is hard to classify into one subgenre, it can be said they draw influence from alternative pop/rock, indie pop, indie rock, post-hardcore, and punk-pop.

Gatsbys began with the disbanding of two bands called One Point Two and Good For Nothing. Bobby Darling was a guitarist for One Point Two and met up with Nic Newsham and Ryan Van Wieringen who were the lead singer and guitarist from Good For Nothing. The completion of Gatsbys didn’t come until they recruited Kirk Huffman (formerly of K Through Six) to play bass and Dustin McGhye as their drummer, to make them a five piece band.

When Kaylan Cloyd from the band Acceptance got his hands on a Gatsbys demo, he handed it off to record label Rocketstar Recordings owner Darrick Bourgeois. Shortly after this, they were signed by the local record label and worked with producer Aaron Sprinkle to record their 2002 debut album Why We Fight. Their first show after being signed drew in a crowd of 500+, which was largely due in part to the extensive promoting by Rocketstar.

Christmastime Is Here
Gatsbys American Dream Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer.
Food for all, the children call their favorite time of year.
Snowflakes in the air, candles everywhere,
olden times and ancient rhymes and love and dreams to share.
(Sleigh bells in the air, beauty everywhere,
Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there)

Christmas time is here.

We'll be drawing near.
Hope that we could always see such spirit through the year.
(Sleigh bells in the air, beauty everywhere,
Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there)
And joyful memories there.

Christmas time is here.
We'll be drawing near.
Hope that we could always see such spirit through the year.

Christmas time is here.
(And joyful memories there)

We'll be drawing near,
Christmas time is here.

Overall Meaning

The Gatsby's American Dream's song "Christmastime is Here" captures both the excitement and nostalgia that many people experience during the holiday season. The opening lines of the song set a cheerful and celebratory tone as it introduces the concept of happiness and cheer, with the focus being on food and the children's delight in the festive period. More than just a seasonal theme, the song then brings in snowflakes and candles suggesting the reverence that forms an essential part of how people think and associate with Christmas. The lines "olden times and ancient rhymes and love and dreams to share" further reinforce the idea that Christmas is not just a holiday, but a time for reflection and sharing with loved ones.

The chorus of the song repeats the idea that Christmas time is here and how it is a time for drawing near to others (both physically and emotionally). The hope that the same spirit that accompanies the festive period can last throughout the year is a significant message of the song. The concluding line of the song, "And joyful memories there," provides a perfect ending for the song, giving the sense that Christmas is a time to create happy memories for years to come.

Line by Line Meaning

Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer.
The season of Christmas has arrived, bringing joy and merriment.

Food for all, the children call their favorite time of year.
Everyone gathers together to eat and celebrate, and children especially love this time of year.

Snowflakes in the air, candles everywhere, olden times and ancient rhymes and love and dreams to share.
The wintry weather and festive decorations remind us of past traditions and stories, and we share our love and aspirations for the future.

(Sleigh bells in the air, beauty everywhere, Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there)
We hear the sounds of sleigh bells and see the beauty of the season, spending cozy evenings by the fire and reminiscing on happy memories.

We'll be drawing near. Hope that we could always see such spirit through the year.
We approach the holiday with anticipation, and express our wish to carry the same joy and spirit of Christmas throughout the year.

(And joyful memories there)
The memories we make during Christmas time are a source of joy and comfort.

Christmas time is here.
The refrain reminds us of the joy and wonder that the holiday season brings.

Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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