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E-mailChristmas is a season of wonder, joy and hope. The first few notes of songs that celebrate the season give us feel-good chills. Happy Christmas songs take us back to our childhood.
Some of the most beautiful Christmas songs have pretty sad stories to tell. While we may get entranced by their catchy rhythm or their haunting tunes, there are some holiday songs that just wring one's heart. Here are some of the saddest Christmas songs. Listen closely to the lyrics and you'll find that they're quite a melancholy bunch. Warning: It may be best not to listen to them especially if you have the holiday blues!
Pasko na Sinta Ko (Gary Valenciano)
“Pasko na sinta ko hanap-hanap kita, bakit magtatampo iniwan ako? Kung mawawala ka sa piling ko sinta, paano ang Pasko, inulila mo?” One can't help but sing this song with bitterness. It’s a song for the broken-hearted, the jilted, the disappointed. The song tells us a story of a love cut short, with one lover leaving another. They may have planned spending Christmas together, but now that their commitment to each other has been broken, what becomes of their Christmas?
“Sayang sinta ang sinumpaan at pagtitinginang tunay. Nais mo bang kalimutang ganap ang ating suyuan at galak? Kung mawawala ka sa piling ko sinta, paano ang Paskong alay ko sa'yo?” This classic is e ultimate song for any member of the SMP (Samahang Malalamig ang Pasko). Gary Valenciano’s haunting vocals are cathartic, and you’d want to shed a tear or two while singing this song. Try not to sing this song at a videoke on Christmas eve lest you want to get any more depressed!
Last Christmas (Wham!)
In this song, it’s not this Christmas that’s depressing – last Christmas was depressing. Why? The singer was dumped last Christmas and vows this year’s holidays will be different. “Last Christmas I gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away. This year to save me from tears I’ll give it to someone special.” It’s a classic story of a ditched lover’s desire to go on the rebound, but may still be clearly attached to that old flame. “I keep my distance but you still catch my eye.” You have to admire the resolve of the singer though, as she knows that succumbing to this ex-lover’s woos (if he does decide to woo her again) would just result in another round of heartbreak.
The song is a mix of empowerment and regret, a jumble of emotions unlike what you feel when you’re picking up the pieces of a broken heart and starting over. So why is it a sad Christmas song? Because of what happened last Christmas.
Merry Christmas Darling (The Carpenters)
“I’ve just one wish on this Christmas Eve. I wish I were with you.” That line says it all. Spending Christmas away from those you love sucks eggs.
This song was composed by a 19-year-old Frank Pooler in 1946. He wrote it as a Christmas present for his girlfriend, who he was away from during Christmas time. Sadly their relationship ended before he could present the song to her. Twenty years later, Pooler shared this old song he had written with two members of his choir – Karen and Richard Carpenter. Richard composed a new melody with the same lyrics, Karen provided the poignant vocals and voila, a Christmas hit was born.
While written by a teenager missing his girlfriend, the beautiful song resonates with a lot of people who are spending Christmas away from those they love. Whether it’s family, a pet or a lover, this song just connects. It’s a melancholic classic.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas (Judy Garland)
If you think this song is sad, you need to take at the original lyrics of this popular holiday song. The lines we grew up with go this way: “Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light. From now on, our troubles will be out of sight... Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more...” The melody is a balance of gloomy and hopeful, which makes this song more heart-rending than it is. The lyrics aren’t that depressing now, are they? Now let’s take a look at the original words.
“Hang a shining star upon the highest bough” was originally “Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow.” The song was written for the 1944 movie “Meet Me in St. Louis.” In the scene were this is sung, Judy Garland’s character is singing to her 7-year-old sister. Their family was moving away from their precious home in Missouri because their father had a job offer in New York. She sings this song to cheer up her sister. She reminds her sibling that not all hope is lost. This Christmas is to be cherished, while friends and family are near. Who knows, next year ”we all may be together if the fates allow. Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow.” Muddle through. This original line just keeps it real. Christmas is indeed a time of optimism and hope. The rest of the year may not be as cheery and Garland was honest about this with her little sister.
The original song written for the movie was very depressing. The scene was sad, and songwriter Hugh Martin saw to it that the lyrics were a reflection of the mood of that scene. Here are some of the lyrics: “Have yourself a merry little Christmas, it may be your last. Next year we may all be living in the past.” “Faithful friends who were dear to us, will be near to us no more.” These words had to be changed several times because they were miserable to the point of being discouraging. The movie was about hoping and dreaming, and the song needed to be more hopeful.
“Hang a shining star upon the highest bough” came in during Frank Sinatra’s version of the song. Even if the most recent lyrics (the one we grew up with) are more optimistic, the song still has that sad, moving tone that makes us go sentimental about past Christmas holidays and the uncertainty of future ones.
Christmas won't be the same without you (Martin Nievera)
“Sadness fills my heart to see you go. Christmas won’t be the same without you. Christmas won’t be the same if you go. All I need to see standing by my Christmas tree (is you).” Yet another song for the heartbroken, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without that special loved one by your side.
The story tells of a love who is about to leave, not one who has left yet. The emotions are the same though. The heart seems to break even if the loved one hasn’t left yet, but the anticipation is enough to make you feel your heart is breaking. “I need you by my side. Hold me tight. Don’t let go.” What makes the heartbreak worse is that the lover is leaving before Christmas. Couldn’t she have stayed till after Christmas? Sigh.
I'll be home for Christmas (Bing Crosby)
The song’s story is told from the perspective of a soldier during World War II. He requests his family to “please have snow and mistletoe and presents under the tree.” Just when the song grows hopeful, it ends with the poignant line “I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.”
This song touches the hearts of those who are away from their families during the holidays. Try as they might to spend Christmas at home, they just can’t. Perhaps a job commitment is keeping them away. Perhaps a lack of funds is the barrier to a family reunion. Maybe a family rift may have gotten in the way. It is a song based on the desire to be reunited. That desire, however, is not realized. Not this Christmas anyway.
River (Joni Mitchell)
This alternative song is not your typical Christmas classic, but it has become quite a standard in holiday albums. Joni’s vocals are painful and tender. The song sings of someone who may have driven away her loved one by being selfish. “I made my baby say goodbye.” Now it’s Christmas time and the decorations are being put up. “I wish I had a river to skate away on.” Have a listen and immerse yourself in how the story unfolds.
This song is for those who want to escape Christmas. This song is for those who want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the holidays, for those who want to leave happy memories of past loves behind. Maybe it’s about starting anew, but it’s mostly about the desire to get away.
Joni Mitchell’s original is the best, but Robert Downey’s rendition is a close second. You can’t help but feel sad even if you don’t have the holiday blues!
If it’s a sad Christmas, listening to melancholy holiday songs can be cathartic. They can help you deal with your sadness. Once you’ve acknowledged your misery however, try to pick yourself up! Have a good cry, sing along (or have a good cry while singing along), then get yourself together. Pick up the phone and make that call to your loved one. Deal with your holiday blues. Listen to happy Christmas songs. That’s what “Jingle Bell Rock” is for – Chipmunks style!
Toni Tiu thinks “River” is the saddest Christmas song ever. She recently had the blues but got over them by listening to songs from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Toni is a freelance writer and strategic planner. She writes about family, love and life on her personal blog Wifelysteps.com.
Photo: “Winter village” by Kathy, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved
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