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If It Ain't Christmas

by The Long Farewells

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about

“I’m really not a fan of most Christmas music,” says Long Farewells songwriter Aaron Rester. “There’s something about the holidays that brings out the maudlin in even the most talented songwriters. So I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could tell a story about the type of holiday that no one wants to have, but almost all of us do at some point.” Both sad and funny, like the best of classic country, "If It Ain't Christmas" winks at the cliches without falling into their trap, and still feels like it would be right at home next to "Blue Christmas" in any holiday playlist.

lyrics

Lyrics:

I'm sitting slackjawed and vacant as a Christmas tree lot
in the morning when folks are openin' all the gifts that they got
there's needles on the concrete, a hint of pine in the air
like the ghost of the hope that you'd soon be there

i'm sitting cross-eyed and drooling, like my tired old dog
who dreams of turkey and stuffing and a blazing yule log
but all he gets are the scraps of a sandwich from last night
and the cold black and white of It's a Wonderful life

chorus:
and if I sit perfectly still, then time it can't pass
there'll be no stockings to fill, and no midnight mass
the lights might stop flashing red green and blue
but if it ain't christmas then I can't miss you

bottles are spread like gift wrap on the floor
of this house where you don't live anymore
the shadows crawl 'cross the tile like the hands of a clock
but if I don't move a muscle, then I can make them stop

chorus

credits

released December 5, 2022
Lead vocals: Gabrielle Schafer
Guitar: Aaron Rester
Violin: Rick Veras
Bass: Nate Lindsey
Backing vocals: Kate Krajci

Words and music by Aaron Rester.

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all rights reserved

tags

about

The Long Farewells Chicago, Illinois

The Long Farewells blend gorgeous harmonies, classic Americana instrumentation, and “pleasingly literate songs with stories to tell” (AmericanaUK) into a timeless sound that brings to light the beauty to be found in even our darkest moments.

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