In 1983, she travelled to Toronto to seek a musical career. In 1986, she founded a trio with bassist David Piltch and pianist Aaron Davis. Offered a record deal in 1989, the Holly Cole Trio released an EP, Christmas Blues, that year, which featured a version of The Pretenders' "2,000 Miles". This was followed by their first full album, Girl Talk, in 1990.
A succession of releases followed through the early 1990s. For example, 1991's Blame It On My Youth, covered songs by Tom Waits ("Purple Avenue", aka "Empty Pockets"), Lyle Lovett ("God Will"), includes show tunes such as "If I Were a Bell" (from Guys and Dolls) and "On the Street Where You Live" (from My Fair Lady), and even remakes "Trust In Me", from Disney's The Jungle Book, into a strikingly sultry and sinister song of seduction and death. Also recorded in this period was "Alison", a reinterpretation of Elvis Costello's original.
Following 1993's Don't Smoke in Bed, the trio released a CD entirely of songs by Tom Waits, called Temptation. With this 1995 release, the "Trio" was dropped from the group's name.
Cole next went into a two-album flirtation with pop music, perhaps keeping with the "diva" fad of the late 90s. These albums, Dark Dear Heart (1997) and Romantically Helpless (2000) veered further from jazz by introducing pop elements to Cole's sound.
In 2001, she returned to the Christmas jazz roots of her first CD with Baby It's Cold Outside, which included such should-be classics as "Christmas Time is Here" (from A Charlie Brown Christmas), "Santa Baby", and the title track. Swapping cold for hot, she moved to a Summer theme in 2003's Shade, this time reinterpreting Cole Porter ("Too Darn Hot"), Irving Berlin ("Heatwave"), and The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson ("God Only Knows").
Cole's latest album, Holly Cole (originally entitled This House Is Haunted) was released in Canada in March 2007. It was released in the US in January 2008 and was followed by a US tour.
Cole tours frequently, particularly around the holiday season, in Canada. She was also a part of the 1999 Lilith Fair tour.
Please Come Home For Christmas
Holly Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bells will be ringing this sad sad news
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
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
"Please Come Home for Christmas" by Holly Cole is a poignant Christmas song that tells a heartbreaking story of loneliness during the festive season. The lyrics are melancholic and evoke a deep sense of loss and despair. The opening line, "Bells will be ringing this sad sad news", sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer finds herself alone, with no friends to share the joyous occasion with. The absence of her lover is felt deeply, and even the sounds of Christmas fail to lift her spirits. She yearns for her lover to come back home, hoping that they will reunite before the year ends.
The song highlights the importance of human connection during the holiday season. The singer recognizes the value of spending time with loved ones and wishes for her lover to return home to fill the void left in her life. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has experienced loneliness during the festive season or has been separated from their loved ones. It is a plea for someone to return and make the holidays a little more bearable.
In conclusion, "Please Come Home for Christmas" by Holly Cole is a touching song that speaks to the longing for human companionship during the holiday season. The song is a reminder that even during times of celebration, loneliness can be overwhelming, and human connection is essential.
Line by Line Meaning
Bells will be ringing this sad sad news
The sound of bells will be heard, but they will bring a message of sadness
Oh what a Christmas to have the blues
This Christmas is a sad one and I'm feeling blue
My baby's gone I have no friends
My loved one is no longer here and I feel like I have no one else
To wish me greetings once again
I miss the warm greetings and well wishes from my loved one
Choirs will be singing "Silent Night"
The choir will be singing a peaceful Christmas carol
Christmas carols by candlelight
The gentle glow of candlelight will accompany the uplifting songs of Christmas
Please come home for Christmas
I am begging for you to come back and spend the holiday with me
If not for Christmas by New Years night
If you can't come back for Christmas, please come back by New Year's Eve
Friends and relations send salutations
Friends and family are sending their holiday greetings from afar
Sure as the stars shine above
The stars in the night sky are a sign of certainty and reliability
But this is Christmas yes Christmas my dear
This is a special time of year, my love, and I want you to be here
The time of year to be with the ones you love
Christmas time is when we should be surrounded by the people we care about
So won't you tell me you'll never more roam
Promise me you'll never leave again or wander off
Christmas and new Years will find you home
I am sure that by Christmas or New Year's you will have come back to me
There'll be no more sorrow no grief and pain
When you come back, all of my sadness and pain will disappear
And I'll be happy, happy once again
Being with you again will bring back my joy and happiness
Oh there'll be no more sorrow, no grief and pain
The thought of being reunited with you fills me with hope and erases all my pain
And I'll be happy, Christmas once again
Being reunited with you will make this a Merry Christmas once again
Contributed by Allison G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pete Stav
Young Holly Cole was an audio and visual Xmas treat!
Antonio Melillo
good