The Bobs have broken with a cappella tradition several times by including instruments. The majority of the 1995 album Plugged is backed by toy drums. Plugged also made heavy use of studio equipment to make the voices sound more like guitars and bass guitars. Coaster includes a rock rhythm section on one song. But this original "band without instruments" usually uses just their mouths, hands, feet and "other body parts" to fill a room with a sound as big as an orchestra.
Members of the group are always credited with "Bob" as their middle name. The name is often described as an acronym for "Best of Breed," an award given out at dog shows.
The group has garnered a healthy cult following in the U.S. and Europe in the 24 years they've been touring and recording, and has won numerous songwriting and vocal performance honors.
The Night Before the Night Before Christmas
The Bobs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Old friends together the same time every year
She's leaving him but he doesn't know it
To everyone else it's perfectly clear
Their holiday party has [Incomprehensible] in the air
A secret that he doesn't share
She's found another, she's movin' on
The guests are uneasy they don't know how to act
Tell him or keep it hushed
Take a drink and a snack, talking behind his back
Soon everyone's getting lushed
It's the night before the night before Christmas
Old friends together the same time every year
She's leaving him but he doesn't know it
To everyone else it's perfectly clear
She said promise you won't spend a lot on my present
Just give me something small
A little reminder is more than enough
It's the thought that counts after all
The gift that she's given him, he can't foresee
A gift that begins with deal
When he gets the papers, things will look grim
Why ruin Christmas for him?
It's the night before the night before Christmas
One year later together as friends
They moved apart, the party's still going
A holiday spirit never will end, a holiday spirit never will end
The Bobs's song The Night Before the Night Before Christmas is all about a group of old friends who gather together for their holiday party every year. However, this year something is different. The woman in the group has decided to leave her partner, but he is oblivious to this fact, and everyone else can see it. The guests at the party are uncomfortable and unsure of how to deal with the situation. Some want to tell him the truth, while others believe it's better to keep it a secret to not ruin Christmas. As the party continues, more and more people get drunk, and the uncomfortable atmosphere intensifies. The story concludes with a year passing, and the same group of friends reuniting for another holiday party, despite some having moved apart. The takeaway message from the song is that the holiday spirit never dies, even if things may not be perfect.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the night before the night before Christmas
The day before Christmas Eve, when old friends come together as they do every year
Old friends together the same time every year
Friends who reunite on this day every year
She's leaving him but he doesn't know it
She has decided to break up with him, but he is unaware of it
To everyone else it's perfectly clear
However, everyone else around them can see that she is going to leave
Their holiday party has [Incomprehensible] in the air
The party is full of a mysterious atmosphere
A secret that he doesn't share
She has a secret that she hasn't told him yet
She's found another, she's movin' on
She has found someone else and wants to end her relationship with him
The day after New Year's she's gone
She plans on leaving him as soon as New Year's passes
The guests are uneasy they don't know how to act
The other guests at the party feel uneasy, not knowing how to react to this situation
Tell him or keep it hushed
They are uncertain about whether to tell him the truth or keep it a secret
Take a drink and a snack, talking behind his back
People at the party gossip about the situation behind his back while drinking and snacking
Soon everyone's getting lushed
As time passes and more drinks are consumed, everyone becomes intoxicated
She said promise you won't spend a lot on my present
She told him in advance not to spend a lot of money on her gift
Just give me something small
She only wants a small gift from him
A little reminder is more than enough
She is content with just a small token of his love
It's the thought that counts after all
What matters most to her is the thought behind the gift
The gift that she's given him, he can't foresee
He has no idea what kind of gift she has given him
A gift that begins with deal
The present that she got for him is not what he expected, and it involves a tough decision
When he gets the papers, things will look grim
Once he reads the paperwork, he will realize that his situation is not good
Why ruin Christmas for him?
No one wants to ruin the festive atmosphere of Christmas for him by revealing the truth
One year later together as friends
A year later they all reunite as friends once again
They moved apart, the party's still going
Although they have all gone their separate ways, the tradition of the party still continues
A holiday spirit never will end, a holiday spirit never will end
The spirit of the holiday season will never die out, and the joy of spending time with loved ones will always continue
Contributed by Cameron E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.