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Green Christmas Lyrics
The streets are filled with Christmas cheer
At least its only once a year
Perfect parcels tied with perfect bows
And carols ringing in my ear
Bundled up against the cold
Lines wherever gifts are sold
Each shop window displays a Christmas scene
For everybody young and old
Icicles on eavesdrops
And tinsel on the trees
But it's a green Christmas for me
Couples skating on the pond
Making angels on the lawn
Five red mittens drying on the rack
And needles shedding tannenbaums
Red bows on the railings
And snowflakes on the ground
But it's a green Christmas in this town
Green
Cause of everything I miss
All this mistletoe no kiss
And with every Christmas wish
There would be no greater gift
Than to have this envy lift
Carolers are at my door
Don't wanna hear them anymore
Stockings on the mantle
It snows here everyday
But it's a green Christmas anyway
Red nose on the reindeer
And tinsel on the tree
But it's a green Christmas for me
At least its only once a year
Perfect parcels tied with perfect bows
And carols ringing in my ear
Bundled up against the cold
Lines wherever gifts are sold
Each shop window displays a Christmas scene
For everybody young and old
Icicles on eavesdrops
And tinsel on the trees
But it's a green Christmas for me
Making angels on the lawn
Five red mittens drying on the rack
And needles shedding tannenbaums
Red bows on the railings
And snowflakes on the ground
But it's a green Christmas in this town
Cause of everything I miss
All this mistletoe no kiss
And with every Christmas wish
There would be no greater gift
Than to have this envy lift
Don't wanna hear them anymore
Stockings on the mantle
It snows here everyday
But it's a green Christmas anyway
And tinsel on the tree
But it's a green Christmas for me
Song Info
Submitted by
neko-chan On May 16, 2004
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hehe i like this song
the first few times that i listened to this, i thought it was about someone living where it dosn't snow. (hence the "green" part) but later i realized that it's about jealousy and trying to outdo your neighbors with better decorations
The song is about Christmas from The Grinch's point of view I think. It was written for that movie with Jim Carrey after all and then repackaged onto 'Maybe This Christmas Too?' and more recently 'Barenaked for the Holidays'. It could also mean that they were jealous of the other people who were having fun. envy and green you know? Anyway, that's what Grinch really was so that fits in too.
Yeah I agree with you guys somewhat but I think there's more to it. A strong, ever present, recurring theme in BNL music is chronic depression/manic depression/suicide but it's not always obvious. They do a lot of benefit and awareness concerts for causes related to mental health. Anyway Christmas time is a really hard time of year for people with depression, especially single and lonely people. So let's break it down:
First verse talks about how great Christmas is, but it's a green Christmas for the speaker regardless.
Second verse makes a point to mention the couples enjoying the season together (the loneliness thing), things like making angels and skating, then says he's jealous (green).
Bridge says he's green because of "everything I miss/All this mistletoe no kiss"; he is missing out on relationships, hates being alone, such a wasted season for single people. And he's wishing to not feel this way (envious/green).
Carolers are at the door, but he doesn't want to hear them any more, because he's just so sick of this season and everything reminds him of how miserable he is. Happy people and carolers throw into sharp relief his melancholia.
Finally the song ends by saying that it snows there every day, but it's a green Christmas anyway, which removes any doubt that the "green" is a literal green from lack of snow and it must be some sort of metaphor.
Love this album :)