Going outside, shoveling snow in the driveway, driveway
Taking our shoes, riding a sled down the hillside, hillside
Can you say what you want? Can you say what you want to be?
Can you be what you want? Can you be what you want?

Our father yells, throwing the gifts in the wood stove, wood stove
My sister runs away, taking her books to the schoolyard, schoolyard
In time the snow will rise, in time the snow will rise
In time the Lord will rise, in time the Lord will rise

Silent night, holy night
Silent night, nothing feels right



Lyrics submitted by tiredgorilla

That Was the Worst Christmas Ever! Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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That Was the Worst Christmas Ever! song meanings
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23 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is fucking AMAZING. captures every feeling i have about coming home for xmas (mainly just the feel of the song, not just the lyrics). reminds me of many days past when it snowed and school would get cancelled.

    i think it's "nothing feels right" for the last tline...

    special 3lendon December 29, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The whole series of christmas albums is fucking beautiful. I wish we could listen to this at work instead of the christmas bullshit on the radio.

    That said, I think this song is pretty clear. His family had a big fight on christmas day, his father burned their gifts and his sister ran away from home. "in time the snow will rise" is about just looking forward to spring and knowing that every family has problems and they'll be ok. From hearing him talk about his childhood at the show, it sounded like he had a pretty good family life, so I don't get the impression that this christmas was typical. Especially the exclamation point in the title, it gives the impression that they can look back on it and laugh about it.

    deliriumtriggeron January 05, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Does anyone know what album this song is off of? I never knew Sufjan did a song like this.

    Raving Lunaticon March 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it's from his series "songs for christmas" vol I & II

    tiredgorillaon March 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    anyone knows of it is released on cd?

    KingJelleon December 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i know that you can get these christmas songs off of many mp3 blogs. i guess start google-ing away.

    knittingon December 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    just buy the boxed set. it has all sorts of christmas goodies!! theres an essay in it that deals specifically with this song, and his feelings about christmas in general. his dad would start taking on extra jobs, joining clubs, etc. to try to get away from the house during the christmas season. his mom would spend loads of money they didnt have to try to make christmas perfect, and when she got too stressed out she would through a random gift in the woodstove to calm herself down or something. i think he said he started to hate christmas after all this, being stuck at home with his family and all this shit going on. and he decided not to celebrate it anymore. and writing these christmas songs was his way of getting back in touch with 'That Creepy Christmas Feeling'. Thats my summary. but you should really read it! :)

    fursoftasfuron December 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    to the person who was saying the meaning of this song- i don't think the father literally burnt the gifts...i think it's a metaphor

    noone1111111111111111111on December 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    also, as of december 24th 2006 it is the free download of the week on itunes

    noone1111111111111111111on December 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    such an awsome song.

    SnwBorder52on February 09, 2007   Link

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