Rock songs that mention Christmas

Doesn't rock very hard, more chamber pop, but an old favorite from the first Cardinal record, Matthews and Davies, "If You Believe in Christmas" ...

 

John Entwistle's I Believe In Everything ends up with the first few lines of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

 

Rolling Stones - Winter.

"And I wish I been out in California /
When the lights on all the Christmas trees went out."

 

Sparks - "Thank God It's Not Christmas"

 

Slight correction: It’s “Christmas lights” in the first line, and the tree is mentioned just once later on.

 

The melody and voice sound amazingly like George Harrison to me.

 

I don't know if this counts as a "rock" song but it rocks

 

I am musical director of a Rock & Soul Xmas Show in Princeton Thursday.

Rock act covers on our list include
Father Xmas - Waitresses
Unwrap You at Xmas - Monkees
Santa C is Comin To Town - Springsteen
Christmas Wrapping - Waitresses
Santa Claus Baby - Joan Osborne
What Do Bad Girls Get? - Joan Osborne
Blue Xmas - Elvis
Little St. Nick - Beach Boys
Christmas Must Be Tonight - The Band
Happy Xmas (War is Over) - John Lennon

We are also doing a bunch of soul and girl group tunes, two Beatles tunes I rewrote with Hanukah lyrics, and this brand new original:

 

Always liked this demo, "Bundle Up," from the Replacements (to the tune of "Jungle Rock"):


Lyrics feel improvised, but Westerberg manages some good ones:

Stockings were hung by the chimney with care
Santa in the bathroom was a-combin' his hair
Elf on the roof they was shootin' up junk
Not a creature was stirrin' cuz they all was drunk

 

Pat Benatar's 1991 sensational jump blues album (with Roomful Of Blues) "True Love" had a bonus track of "Please Come Home For Christmas". It's great, but you never hear it....

 

Not a necessarily a "rock" song, but the Bee Gees First Of May has Christmas in the lyrics:



When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall
We used to love while others used to play
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by
Some one else moved in from far away
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small
And you don't ask the time of day
But you and I, our love will never die
But guess we'll cry come first of May
The apple tree that grew for you and me
I watched the apples falling one by one
And I recall the moment of them all
The day I kissed your cheek and you were mine
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small
And you don't ask the time of day
But you and I, our love will never die
But guess we'll cry come first of May
When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall
Do do do do do do do do do
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by
Some one else moved in from far away

 

Already mentioned, but the video needs to be posted.

 

Metal and Punk Christmas Songs – Green and Black Music

 

Queen - Thank God It's Christmas.
Springsteen - Merry Christmas Baby.

 

Driving home for Christmas - Chris Rea
Joys of Christmas - Chris Rea
Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade was looked on as pop rock at the most at the time but sounds pretty hard rock these days
Cold as Xmas - Elton John
Step into Christmas - Elton John

 

Looking For Eden by Ian Anderson

 

I think Christmas is mentioned in this song.

Lonely Sky Chris De Burgh

 

A few smart people have recorded albums using Roomful Of Blues as the "back up " band. (Colin James is the only one I can think of at the moment.)
They are a band that I would love to see live as I have never seen a horn driven band live before. No chance they will ever get to my part of the world.

 

Strictly adhering to the OP’s criteria, Good Morning by Steve Miller Band on his album, Number 5 album.

At 2:11 they segue into a brilliant instrumental that is from from The Christmas Carol that features “Tidings of Comfort and Joy.

Check it out!

 

On The Road Again by Bob Dylan he mentions Santa Claus.

 

They were my favorite blues group for years, but later on they had a lot of personnel changes, not for
the better. But the original line up with Greg Picolo (on this CD) is remarkable.
My wife and I were fortunate to see them here in Milwaukee at a jazz club (packed house) shortly after
Picolo had left the group and went solo, but it was one of the most memorable (and rockin') live shows
I've ever seen. And yes, I have the Colin James albums (they're the Little Big Band) and they too are
sensational. Also, they're on one or two tracks on Stevie Ray Vaughn's Carnegie Hall CD.

 

Some of these are leaning more towards seasonal than not. Like "I Believe in Father Christmas" or "Merry Xmas (The War Is Over)" I really wouldn't listen to outside December

Unless some of YOU do but... why?

 

Ben Folds Five- Brick ("6 A.M....day after Christmas....")

The Cure- Let's Go To Bed (...."laughing at the Christmas lights...you remember from December").

Blink-182- I Miss You ("...we'll have Halloween on Christmas")