Christmas in Washington
Steve Earle Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's Christmastime in Washington
The Democrats rehearsed
Gettin' into gear for four more years
Things not gettin' worse
Republicans drink whiskey neat
And thanked their lucky stars
They said, "He cannot seek another term
They'll be no more FDRs"

I sat home in Tennessee
Just staring at the screen
With an uneasy feeling in my chest
I'm wonderin' what it means

So come back Woody Guthrie
Come back to us now
Tear your eyes from paradise
And rise again somehow
If you run into Jesus
Maybe he can help you out
Come back Woody Guthrie to us now

I followed in your footsteps once
Back in my travelin' days
Somewhere I failed to find your trail
Now I'm stumblin' through the haze
But there's killers on the highway now
And a man can't get around
So I sold my soul for wheels that roll
Now I'm stuck here in this town

Come back Woody Guthrie
Come back to us now
Tear your eyes from paradise
And rise again somehow
If you run into Jesus
Maybe he can help us out
Come back Woody Guthrie to us now

There's foxes in the hen house
Cows out in the corn
The unions have been busted
Their proud red banners torn
To listen to the radio
You'd think that all was well
But you and me and Cisco know
It's going straight to hell

So come back, Emma Goldman
Rise up, old Joe Hill
The barracades are goin' up
They cannot break our will
Come back to us, Malcolm X
And Martin Luther King
We're marching into Selma
As the bells of freedom ring

So come back Woody Guthrie
Come back to us now




Tear your eyes from paradise
And rise again somehow

Overall Meaning

In "Christmas in Washington," Steve Earle contrasts the celebration of the holidays in Washington D.C. with the country's political landscape at the time. The opening lines paint a picture of two very different parties - the Democratic party, hopeful for the next four years, while the Republicans, grateful that the sitting president cannot run for reelection, can indulge in their whiskey. The singer, all alone in Tennessee, cannot help but feel uneasy about the state of the country, something he cannot quite put into words. He then calls out to Woody Guthrie, the iconic folk singer who made it his mission to give voice to the oppressed, asking him to return and help make sense of the current political turmoil.


The singer is yearning for a simpler time in America. He himself, at one point, followed in the footsteps of Woody Guthrie, who spoke up for the oppressed during the Great Depression. At this point, however, the singer feels as though he has failed to make a difference. "Killers on the highway" and other dangers keep him anchored in one spot, unable to continue traveling and experiencing the country. In the third and final verse, the singer calls out to other icons of American history, including Emma Goldman and Martin Luther King Jr., asking for them to return and help fight against the injustices still present in America. The song overall conveys a sense of longing for a time when change felt more possible, and a hope that people like Woody Guthrie can still inspire progress.


Line by Line Meaning

It's Christmastime in Washington
It's the holiday season in the US capital city, during which politicians are preparing for the upcoming four-year term.


The Democrats rehearsed
The Democratic Party is engaged in preparing themselves for the upcoming term, holding practices and trials for a better performance.


Gettin' into gear for four more years
The political parties are gearing up for the upcoming four-year term.


Things not gettin' worse
The status quo is more or less maintained and the situations in the country are not getting worse.


Republicans drink whiskey neat
The members of the Republican Party are enjoying whiskey straight without any mixers.


And thanked their lucky stars
The Republicans were grateful for their good fortune in not having to compete with President Roosevelt, who had run and won four terms previously.


They said, "He cannot seek another term
The Republicans were pleased that President Roosevelt was ineligible to run for another term due to an amendment in the United States Constitution.


They'll be no more FDRs"
The Republicans were relieved that they would not have to worry about facing another formidable opponent like Franklin Delano Roosevelt.


I sat home in Tennessee
The artist was staying at home in Tennessee.


Just staring at the screen
The artist was gazing at a device and seemed to be deep in thought.


With an uneasy feeling in my chest
The singer was experiencing anxiety or discomfort in their chest.


I'm wonderin' what it means
The artist was confused or curious about something and trying to make sense of it.


So come back Woody Guthrie
The singer is calling on Woody Guthrie, a singer-songwriter from the 20th century, to return or come back.


Come back to us now
The singer is inviting Woody Guthrie to return to the world and join them.


Tear your eyes from paradise
The singer is urging Woody Guthrie to stop being absorbed by their ideal and visionary world.


And rise again somehow
The artist is encouraging Woody Guthrie who seems to be down but is hoping that he will recover from his misery and make a comeback.


If you run into Jesus
The artist is creating an imaginary scenario where Woody Guthrie might meet Jesus.


Maybe he can help you out
The singer thinks Jesus might be able to help Woody Guthrie out of his difficult predicament.


I followed in your footsteps once
The singer is explaining how they have been inspired by Woody Guthrie's work and ideas.


Back in my travelin' days
The artist is reminiscing about their younger days, when they were traveling.


Somewhere I failed to find your trail
The artist is admitting that in their past, they missed out on following the path set by Woody Guthrie.


Now I'm stumblin' through the haze
The artist is coming across many difficult obstacles and struggles in their current situation.


But there's killers on the highway now
There are dangerous people and events happening on the roads which the singer is having to navigate.


And a man can't get around
It's becoming increasingly difficult for a person to move around or travel freely.


So I sold my soul for wheels that roll
The singer admits that to be able to travel through the hazard-filled highways, they have had to compromise on their principles or moral values.


Now I'm stuck here in this town
The singer is explaining how they are now trapped or stuck in a particular location.


There's foxes in the hen house
The singer is using a metaphorical expression to imply that the wrong people are in charge of important responsibilities.


Cows out in the corn
The artist draws attention to livestock that have strayed out of where they should be and are running loose.


The unions have been busted
The artist is referring to a situation where workers' cooperatives or organizations have been severely weakened or dissolved.


Their proud red banners torn
The singer describes a scene where the emblems or flags associated with the unions have been ripped apart, which could symbolize a loss of power or dissipation of unity.


To listen to the radio
The singer mentions a commonplace activity i.e., tuning into a radio station.


You'd think that all was well
Although the media and news portray things as being calm and well, this is not how they truly are.


But you and me and Cisco know
The artist is enlisting a person named Cisco and the listener to acknowledge the reality of the situation, which is different from what is told to the public.


It's going straight to hell
The artist is emphasizing that the state of affairs is deteriorating rapidly and moving towards a terrible fate.


So come back, Emma Goldman
The singer is calling out Emma Goldman, who was an anarchist and political theorist from the late 19th and early 20th century.


Rise up, old Joe Hill
The artist is referring to Joe Hill, a labor activist and songwriter who lived in the early 20th century.


The barricades are goin' up
Figuratively, the barriers or obstacles in the way of change are increasing.


They cannot break our will
The singer is expressing hope that their willpower and determination will triumph over the obstacles that are being placed before them.


Come back to us, Malcolm X
The singer is referring to Malcolm X, a human rights activist who fought for racial justice and equality for African Americans in the mid-20th century.


And Martin Luther King
The artist is mentioning Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement who also advocated for racial equality and justice.


We're marching into Selma
The artist is drawing attention to the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, which is seen as a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.


As the bells of freedom ring
This phrase evokes a powerful and inspiring image of the bells that signified the end of slavery and the beginning of freedom ringing out.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Suzanne Sittaro

Yes..legendary! As prevalent today as it was then!

Martha Langston

Even more so now, in September, 2021 - we're getting closer to the 3rd world nation status.

bookwormsurfer

I ove this song, and I take pride in the fact that Steve told an audience, I was his hero. He certainly is mine!

Ben Holland

Wow this says everything about the state of America

Lauren McCabe

I can only imagine what he would be saying in his introduction now in this even worse time of April of 2019... :(

Tyler Lavoie

Bro just WAIT for April 2020

Robert Noonan

come back mlk

Michael McCarthy

He'd be saying the same thing- do you want a a brain damaged, war whore, corporate dupe, homophobe, racist who gets a D- from Greenpeace like Biden or do you want to maintain the status quo. The false narrative is that one is better than the other.

Say My Name

Legendary.

Joanne Hack

P.S. love the shirt

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