4 original country Christmas songs to soundtrack your holiday gathering
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4 original country Christmas songs to soundtrack your holiday gathering

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

Thanksgiving is over and families across the country are decorating for Christmas. It’s finally time to put on some Christmas music. However, not everyone wants to hear the same Christmas standards all month long. So why not tap into the wealth of original Christmas songs from some of country’s best songwriters?

It seems like every country artist has recorded a few Christmas songs or a Christmas album or two. It’s okay to hear their interpretations of classics. However, they really shine when they use their songwriting skills to capture the magic of the holiday season.

“Christmas in Prison” by John Prine

John Prine managed to perfectly capture the human condition with his songwriting. He was one of those writers who could make their listeners laugh, cry and think in a single song. “Christmas in Prison” from his 1973 album Sweet revenge is a perfect example of this ability. It captures the joy and wonder of Christmas while depicting the loneliness and longing of those behind bars during the holidays.

Don’t miss this classic song when it’s time to put together a country Christmas playlist.

“Merry Christmas from the Family” by Robert Earl Keen

Country singer and songwriter Robert Earl Keen had a problem with all the Christmas songs he had heard over the years. None of them matched the vacations he spent growing up in Houston, Texas. “Where it was most likely 85 degrees and 95 percent humidity.” So he wrote the humorous holiday classic “Merry Christmas from the Family” and included it on his 1994 album Gringo honeymoon.

“Merry Christmas from the Family” seems like a Texas version of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation complete with Christmas lighting mishaps and a dysfunctional family.

“Santa Claus and Popcorn” by Merle Haggard

When it comes to original country Christmas songs, Merle Haggard’s “Santa Claus and Popcorn” is hard to beat. The song first appeared on his 1973 album Merle Haggard’s Christmas present and appeared in future Christmas releases.

In “Santa Claus and Popcorn,” Haggard captures all the magic of the season. He sings about the mundane parts of the celebration, including decorations, Santa Claus and presents. However, he doesn’t sugarcoat the religious roots of the holiday. We celebrate because a king was born / With Santa Claus and popcorn.

“Come on Christmas” by Dwight Yoakam

Dwight Yoakam wrote “Come on Christmas” and used it as the theme song to his 1997 Christmas album. It’s a slow, sad song that many listeners can probably relate to. In the lyrics, Yoakam waits for the joy of Christmas to erase his lonely days and empty nights.

“Come on Christmas” might not be the best song to put on while decorating the tree with your family. However, if you’re looking for the perfect song for a holiday slow dance, this is it.

Featured image by Gary Miller/Getty Images

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