Their 2010 self-titled Grace Potter and The Nocturnals was followed by The Lion The Beast The Beat in 2012.
Leading the charge is 25-year-old Grace Potter whose dynamic vocal ability has drawn comparisons to legends Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin and more recently Sheryl Crow and Joan Osborne. Her unique style behind the Hammond B-3 and piano is also gaining widespread recognition. The original lineup included Scott Tournet (guitar/slide guitar), Matthew Burr (drums/percussion), and Bryan Dondero (upright/electric bass). After Dondero parted ways with the Nocturnals in March 2009, they brought in Catherine Popper (bass) and also added Benny Yurco (rhythm guitar).
They have toured with national acts such as Taj Mahal, Trey Anastasio, Dave Matthews Band, The Black Crowes, Derek Trucks, Gov't Mule, Robert Cray, and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.
Please Come Home For Christmas
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Lyrics
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Oh what a Christmas to have the blues
My baby's gone I have no friends
To wish me greetings once again
Choirs will be singing "Silent Night"
Christmas carols by candlelight
Please come home for Christmas
Please come home for Christmas
If not for Christmas by New Years night
Friends and relations send salutations
Sure as the stars shine above
But this is Christmas yes Christmas my dear
The time of year to be with the ones you love
So won't you tell me you'll never more roam
Christmas and new Years will find you home
There'll be no more sorrow, no grief and pain
And I'll be happy, happy once again
Oh there'll be no more sorrow, no grief and pain
And I'll be happy, Christmas once again
There'll be no more sorrow, no grief and pain
And I'll be happy, that is Christmas once again
The lyrics to Grace Potter and the Nocturnals’ song “Please Come Home for Christmas” tell the story of a forlorn individual who is experiencing a lonely and difficult Christmas season. The bells are ringing with sad news and the singer is feeling the blues due to the absence of their loved one. The holiday season is typically a time of joy and celebration with friends and family, but for the singer, there are no friends around to share greetings with. Despite this, the usual Christmas carols are ringing out, including “Silent Night” sung by choirs in the glow of candlelight. The singer pleads for their loved one to return home for Christmas with the powerful and emotional refrain of “Please come home for Christmas.”
The verse that follows, “If not for Christmas by New Years night, friends and relations send salutations, sure as stars shine above,” acknowledges that friends and family will send their regards for the new year, but it’s clear that the singer is longing for something more substantial - the return of their loved one. They emphasize that Christmas is a time to be with the ones you love, and it’s clear from the lyrics that being without them is causing great pain.
The bridge of the song provides a glimpse of hope that everything will be better once the loved one returns. Their return will bring an end to the singer’s sorrow, grief, and pain, and they will be happy once again. The final refrain of the song reinforces this idea, saying again that there will be no more sorrow, grief, and pain, and that Christmas will be a happy time once again.
Overall, the lyrics to “Please Come Home for Christmas” offer a poignant reminder of the importance of loved ones during the holiday season, and the profound sense of loss that can be felt without them.
Line by Line Meaning
Bells will be ringing this sad sad news
The joyous sound of bells is a reminder of the sadness and grief felt during this Christmas season
Oh what a Christmas to have the blues
This Christmas is overshadowed by the heartache and sadness of a lost love
My baby's gone I have no friends
The singer is alone and isolated, with no one to turn to for comfort or companionship
To wish me greetings once again
The artist longs for the comfort of familiar holiday greetings from loved ones
Choirs will be singing "Silent Night"
The comforting sounds of holiday music only serve to highlight the artist's loneliness and pain
Christmas carols by candlelight
The atmosphere of peace and light only serves to emphasize the deep sadness of the situation
Please come home for Christmas
The singer reaches out, longing for the return of a lost love and the comfort that would bring
If not for Christmas by New Years night
The artist acknowledges that the timing of their plea is driven by the traditions of the season
Friends and relations send salutations
Others may be enjoying the company of family and friends during this time, while the artist's world is empty
Sure as the stars shine above
The artist's longing is as constant and true as the stars in the sky
But this is Christmas yes Christmas my dear
The holiday is a time for connection and warmth, making the loss even more painful to bear
The time of year to be with the ones you love
The season emphasizes the importance of spending time with loved ones, which heightens the artist's sense of isolation
So won't you tell me you'll never more roam
The singer pleads for a promise of return and the end of the heartache caused by separation
Christmas and new Years will find you home
The holidays serve as a beacon of hope, with the promise of reunion and the end of the loneliness
There'll be no more sorrow, no grief and pain
The return of the loved one will bring an end to the singer's struggle and pain
And I'll be happy, happy once again
The resolution of the loss will bring joy and happiness back into the artist's life, allowing them to finally move forward
Oh there'll be no more sorrow, no grief and pain
The repetition emphasizes the depth of the artist's yearning for the end of the sadness
And I'll be happy, Christmas once again
The return of the loved one and the end of the sadness will bring back the joy and warmth that is part of the true spirit of Christmas
Contributed by Levi O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.