Christmas In America
Melissa Etheridge Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I picked out a tree
And I tied it to the car
There's a wreath up on our door
Eight tiny reindeer in the yard
I drove under the downtown lights
Red and green and blue
The silver neon snowflakes
Only made me think of you
It's Christmas all around me
You're in someone else's land
So I'm sending out my only wish
Hey Santa tell the man

Hey mister send my baby home
This December I don't want to be all alone
Oh Christmas in America
I need you in my arms
Far away from harm
Mister send my baby home

I hear someone singing jingle bells
No wait that deck the halls
And the teenagers with candy canes
Ramble through the malls
The girls are down at Ruby's
Trying to find some Christmas cheer
There's not much to do but drink too much
When everyday's unclear
So here I am on Christmas eve
This silent holy night
And I reach up to the stars for you
And I pray that you're alright

What happened to the peace on earth
All that goodwill toward men




Oh come on all ye faithful
It's time to think again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Melissa Etheridge's song, "Christmas In America," describe the feelings of a woman who is alone during Christmas after her lover's departure to a distant land. She narrates her experience while driving on the streets illuminated by red, green, and blue lights, attended by teenagers carrying candy canes, and mall-goers looking for Christmas excitement. Despite the decorations and activities, she still feels lonely without her lover's company during the festive period. She resorts to prayers to reach out to him, conveying her love and longingness. She questions the absence of peace on earth and goodwill toward men, prompting listeners to rethink the essence of Christmas.


The song's lyrics evoke a bittersweet emotion that people could relate to when away from their loved ones during the festive season. The use of imagery to describe the streets' illumination and activities creates a vivid picture of the American Christmas experience. Etheridge's voice reflects the emotions felt during this season, making the song a classic Christmas ballad.


Line by Line Meaning

I picked out a tree
I went to a Christmas tree farm and carefully selected a tree to bring home and decorate.


And I tied it to the car
I tied the Christmas tree firmly onto the roof of my car, making sure it wouldn't fall off during the drive home.


There's a wreath up on our door
We have hung a circular decoration made of greenery and red ribbons on our front door to symbolize Christmas.


Eight tiny reindeer in the yard
We have set up a display in our yard featuring eight small statues or decorations of Santa's famous reindeer.


I drove under the downtown lights
I drove through the city center, enjoying the sight of all the bright, colorful Christmas lights hanging from buildings and trees.


Red and green and blue
The downtown lights I passed were colored red, green, and blue, which are traditional Christmas colors.


The silver neon snowflakes
I saw some snowflake-shaped decorations made of silver and lit up with neon lights.


Only made me think of you
Seeing these Christmas decorations reminded me of someone special who is not with me.


It's Christmas all around me
Christmas is everywhere I look and listen, with festive decorations, music, and advertisements all around me.


You're in someone else's land
The person I miss is in a foreign country, far away from me and their usual surroundings.


So I'm sending out my only wish
My one hope this Christmas is for that person to come back to me, so I am expressing this to Santa Claus.


Hey Santa tell the man
I am calling on Santa Claus to deliver a message to the person I miss so much.


Hey mister send my baby home
I am begging the person who is with my loved one to send them back to me for Christmas.


This December I don't want to be all alone
I am afraid of spending Christmas alone, without the person I love and care about.


Oh Christmas in America
This is a song about the American experience of celebrating Christmas, with its unique traditions, festivities, and commercialism.


I need you in my arms
I desperately miss the person I love and long to hold them close again.


Far away from harm
I want nothing more than for my loved one to be safe and protected, wherever they are.


I hear someone singing jingle bells
I can hear someone nearby singing a popular Christmas song called 'Jingle Bells,' which features catchy melodies and lyrics about sleigh rides and laughter.


No wait that deck the halls
Actually, the song being sung is 'Deck the Halls,' which is another popular Christmas carol, featuring joyful and repetitive lyrics about decorating for the holidays.


And the teenagers with candy canes
I can see groups of young people walking around with canes made of candy, which is a common Christmas treat.


Ramble through the malls
These teenagers are aimlessly wandering around the shopping centers and department stores that are popular destinations during the holiday season.


The girls are down at Ruby's
Some young women are hanging out at a place called Ruby's, which could be a bar or coffee shop or another local gathering spot.


Trying to find some Christmas cheer
These girls are searching for a sense of happiness, excitement, and connection that is usually associated with Christmas, but they are having a hard time finding it.


There's not much to do but drink too much
Many people turn to alcohol as a way to cope with the stress, loneliness, or disappointment they feel during Christmas, even though excessive drinking is not healthy or helpful.


When everyday's unclear
For many people, Christmas can be a confusing or uncertain time, with conflicting emotions, expectations, and pressures.


So here I am on Christmas eve
It is now the night before Christmas, and I am reflecting on my feelings and experiences during this holiday season.


This silent holy night
As I sit in stillness and contemplation, I recognize the religious significance of Christmas as a holy night, when Jesus Christ is believed to have been born.


And I reach up to the stars for you
I am reaching out to the person I miss and hoping that they can feel my love and longing even though we are separated by distance.


And I pray that you're alright
I am sending my heartfelt wishes and hopes for the health, happiness, and safety of the person who is not with me.


What happened to the peace on earth
Despite the festive and sentimental aspects of Christmas, there is still much discord, violence, and injustice in the world that does not align with the message of peace that Christmas is meant to represent.


All that goodwill toward men
The goodwill and generosity that is often associated with Christmas should extend beyond just one day or season and should be practiced toward everyone, regardless of their beliefs or background, throughout the year.


Oh come on all ye faithful
This is an invitation and reminder to all those who believe and have faith to remain steadfast, committed, and hopeful, even when faced with hardship or adversity.


It's time to think again
This song encourages listeners to reflect on the meaning and purpose of Christmas, and to consider how they can live and act in ways that promote peace, love, and compassion.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MELISSA ETHERIDGE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

MsGerry57

I love this song ❤️🌲❤️

Jeffery Miller

I love this song. I was in the army overseas 4 times

Kim Smith

Thank you for your service, sir. 🇺🇸

Connie S.

awesome CHRISTMAS song

Susan Laverty

💚❄💙🎄

Katie O'B

I think it’s really nice he told him he deserves to be paid for it. I hope you expect to pay the bill because you will

Elizabeth Brown

I recall hearing this song once or twice when my son was deployed and I loved it. But they rarely played it (I think it was perceived as anti-patriotic) Needed to keep everyone on board and brainwashed during that Middle East war-- Bush's reign.

Sean Degidon

Thank you for all the sacrifices your family has made. I only discovered this song recently, and it deserves play as long as the USA is in wars not tied to national security (as opposed to "interests") explicitly authorized, and defined by specific, limited goals. Can't say for this song, but I noticed the the Media pull the plug on anti-war stuff (e.g. CBS News airing a profile on every dead serviceman) in January, 2009. The wars and deaths didn't stop, of course, just the coverage. Now they call the president a "Putin puppet" if he pulls out of a war (e.g. Syria). Go figure!

Katie O'B

……Or the starlets 🔫💪🏽go 🛳⛴🚢🛶🚤⛵️⛵️🚣‍♀️🚣🚣‍♂️

Katie O'B

The Truth. If you had ever been willing to finish these thoughts we never would’ve required artificial intelligence. Finished That thought… giving him credit. I suppose you told him he should be paid for it as well. Now apply that foolishness to your own life.

More Versions