The Twelve Songs of Christmas

Curtis Ramsey-Lucas
2 min readDec 15, 2021

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Looking for an eclectic playlist of Christmas music by which to trim the tree or to listen to on your commute? Interested in something that wanders from the beaten path of traditional popular and liturgical songs of the season?

The Twelve Songs of Christmas started as a much longer playlist, but I decided to pare it down to the essentials with the 12 Days of Christmas providing inspiration for the length.

There are some standards — “Blue Christmas,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” — and a Chuck Berry rocker about a red-nosed reindeer, “whizzing like a Saber jet.”

You’ll hear two tracks — “Soulful Christmas” and “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto” — from one of the greatest Christmas albums of all time, James Brown’s “Funky Christmas.”

Santa Claus, go straight to the ghetto
Don’t leave nothing for me
I’ve had my chance, you see?

The social commentary continues with the Kink’s “Father Christmas.”

Have yourself a merry, merry Christmas
Have yourself a good time
But remember the kids who got nothin’
While you’re drinkin’ down your wine

Robert Earl Keen’s “Merry Christmas from The Family,” and The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” capture the mess and mercy of the holiday better than most.

Also included is one version of The Band’s overlooked classic, “Christmas Must Be Tonight.” Also worth your while is the alternate version on the expanded edition of their “Northern Lights-Southern Cross” album. Check it out sometime.

Lastly, I offer one non-Christmas song, my own “Carry On,” released earlier this year. The holidays can be hard — more so amid a pandemic with its attendant loss. Be well. Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas. Carry On.

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Curtis Ramsey-Lucas

writer. editor. musician. artist. follow me on Twitter @cramseylucas