The Lumineers is an American folk rock band based in Denver, Colorado forme… Read Full Bio ↴The Lumineers is an American folk rock band based in Denver, Colorado formed by Wesley Schultz (lead vocals, guitar) and Jeremiah Fraites (drums, percussion). Schultz and Fraites began writing and performing together in Ramsey, New Jersey in 2005. Cellist and vocalist Neyla Pekarek joined the band in 2010, and was a member until 2018.

The band's debut self-titled album was released on April 3, 2012. The album's first single, "Ho Hey" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.

The Ho Hey Songfacts reports that Schultz and Fraites were originally based in New York and started collaborating in 2002 after Fraites’ brother, Josh, who was also Schultz’s best friend died of an overdose. The pair began writing and performing to cope with their grief and they later relocated to Denver, where they met the classically trained Pekarek after advertising for a cellist.

Their self-titled debut album The Lumineers was released on April 3, 2012, on Dualtone Records.

Their second album, Cleopatra, was released in 2016.

The band's third album, titled III, was released on September 13, 2019 and debuted at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200.

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Blue Christmas
The Lumineers Lyrics

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I'll have a Blue Christmas without you
I'll be so blue thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won't mean a thing, dear, if you're not here with me

I'll have a blue heartache for certain
And when those blue memories start hurtin'
You'll be doin' alright with your Christmas of white

But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas

And when those blue heartaches start hurtin'
I'll have a blue memory for certain
And you'll be doin' alright, with your Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas

You'll be doin' alright, with your Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas

Overall Meaning

The Lumineers' rendition of "Blue Christmas" captures the somberness and isolation that can accompany the holiday season, particularly when someone is absent. The lyrics express the sense of loneliness and heartache that can be amplified during this time of year. The use of the color blue throughout the song is a metaphor for sadness and melancholy. The opening line, "I'll have a Blue Christmas without you," establishes the theme of the song and immediately sets a mournful tone. The singer is missing someone and cannot seem to find any joy in the festivities without them.

The second verse of the song reveals that memories are just as painful as the current absence of the person. This highlights that the holidays can be a trigger for past memories and feelings, further amplifying the blues. The stanza "Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree" emphasizes similar themes of contrasts and juxtapositions, whereby symbols of joy and cheer do not reflect the singer's inner state of mind. The sorrowful tone is further emphasized by the repetition of the phrase "blue, blue Christmas" in the final line.

Overall, "Blue Christmas" by The Lumineers portrays a bittersweet holiday experience, where the festive joy of the season contrasts with the sadness of missing someone dearly. It's a reminder of the powerful emotions that can be stirred up during the holidays.

Line by Line Meaning

I'll have a Blue Christmas without you
I will spend Christmas feeling sad and lonely without your presence

I'll be so blue thinking about you
Thoughts of you will make me sad and melancholic

Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
The traditional festive decor of red and green will be present, but meaningless without you here

Won't mean a thing, dear, if you're not here with me
The meaning and joy of the decorations will be lost without your presence

I'll have a blue heartache for certain
I will undoubtedly feel pain and sorrow in my heart

And when those blue memories start hurtin'
Painful memories will surface and cause me emotional distress

You'll be doin' alright with your Christmas of white
You will be fine and happy without me during your white (peaceful) Christmas

But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas
Despite the festive atmosphere, I will still feel sad and lonely without you here

Writer(s): Jay W. Johnson, Billy Hayes

Contributed by Mason B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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