It's hard to explain why "Christmas Eve in Washington" by Maura Sullivan is my favorite Christmas song. The lyrics are corny at best, and to say Sullivan's delivery is overdone would be a understatement. But I adore locally grown music - even at its very worst - and I wait until Christmas Eve each year to play this song again.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Just Up The Pike!
It's snowing tonight in the Blue Ridge
There's a hush on the Ches'peake Bay
The chimneys are smoking in Georgetown
And tomorrow is Christmas Day
The Tidal Basin lies quiet
The tourists have found their way home
Mr. Jefferson's standing the mid-watch
And there's a star on the Capitol Dome
It's Christmas Eve in Washington
America's hometown
For it's here that freedom lives
And peace can stand her ground
It's Christmas Eve in Washington
Our joyous wish to you
Is for peace, love and laughter
to last the whole year through
Snowmen peeking through the windows
It's warm with love inside
'Round the tree the children gather
Awaiting Santa's midnight ride
Mom and Dad are counting their blessings
Reflecting on all they've done
So thankful for another
Christmas Eve in Washington
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Just Up The Pike!
It's snowing tonight in the Blue Ridge
There's a hush on the Ches'peake Bay
The chimneys are smoking in Georgetown
And tomorrow is Christmas Day
The Tidal Basin lies quiet
The tourists have found their way home
Mr. Jefferson's standing the mid-watch
And there's a star on the Capitol Dome
It's Christmas Eve in Washington
America's hometown
For it's here that freedom lives
And peace can stand her ground
It's Christmas Eve in Washington
Our joyous wish to you
Is for peace, love and laughter
to last the whole year through
Snowmen peeking through the windows
It's warm with love inside
'Round the tree the children gather
Awaiting Santa's midnight ride
Mom and Dad are counting their blessings
Reflecting on all they've done
So thankful for another
Christmas Eve in Washington
You're right. "lyrics are corny at best, and to say Sullivan's delivery is overdone would be a understatement. But I adore locally grown music - even at its very worst..." However, I also have always liked it.
ReplyDeleteChristmas In Washington
ReplyDelete(Steve Earle)
It's Christmastime in Washington
The Democrats rehearsed
Gettin' into gear for four more years
Things not gettin' worse
The Republicans drink whiskey neat
And thanked their lucky stars
They said, 'He cannot seek another term
They'll be no more FDRs'
I sat home in Tennessee
Staring at the screen
With an uneasy feeling in my chest
And I'm wonderin' what it means
Chorus:
So come back Woody Guthrie
Come back to us now
Tear your eyes from paradise
And rise again somehow
If you run into Jesus
Maybe he can help you out
Come back Woody Guthrie to us now
I followed in your footsteps once
Back in my travelin' days
Somewhere I failed to find your trail
Now I'm stumblin' through the haze
But there's killers on the highway now
And a man can't get around
So I sold my soul for wheels that roll
Now I'm stuck here in this town
Chorus
There's foxes in the hen house
Cows out in the corn
The unions have been busted
Their proud red banners torn
To listen to the radio
You'd think that all was well
But you and me and Cisco know
It's going straight to hell
So come back, Emma Goldman
Rise up, old Joe Hill
The barracades are goin' up
They cannot break our will
Come back to us, Malcolm X
And Martin Luther King
We're marching into Selma
As the bells of freedom ring
I WANT to love this song and can't say I have a problem with the lyrics or her voice - but gotta say the musical overtone is just maudlin - not sentimental, warm, or even joyous. When it comes on the Christmas radio mix, it is just a real drag and downer.
ReplyDelete