Saturday, December 27, 2008

One of my favorite Christmas songs. Can you believe it was written by Dolly Parton?! (or at least sung by her in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) Still, my favorite version was by the Seattle Men's Chorus, during their Christmas concerts back in the late 80's-early 90's, at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis (which added a whole 'nother layer to the lyrics). We have it on their CD titled "Snowbound." It is just such a melancholy, but hopeful song. I love it:

Hard Candy Christmas

Hey, maybe i'll dye my hair
Maybe i'll move somewhere
Maybe i'll get a car
Maybe i'll drive so far
They'll all lose track
Me, i'll bounce right back

Maybe i'll sleep real late
Maybe i'll lose some weight
Maybe i'll clear my junk
Maybe i'll just get drunk on apple wine
Me, i'll be just

Fine and dandy
Lord it's like a hard candy christmas
I'm barely getting through tomorrow
But still i won't let
Sorrow bring me way down

I'll be fine and dandy
Lord it's like a hard candy christmas
I'm barely getting through tomorrow
But still i won't let
Sorrow get me way down

Hey, maybe i'll learn to sew
Maybe i'll just lie low
Maybe i'll hit the bars
Maybe i'll count the stars until dawn
Me, i will go on
. . .

*

5 comments:

Collin Kelley said...

Yep, that's a great one. That song seems pretty apt for this season in a way.

Anne Haines said...

I first heard that song when Cris Williamson covered it on her holiday album "Snow Angel" (which I still listen to most years, though I never did get around to it this year). Good stuff.

Pamela Johnson Parker said...

I love Ms. Parton--this is a great song. I've had many hard candy Christmases myself.

"Jolene" haunts me, too.

One of these days I will write a Dolly poem. I've tried but cannot do her justice.

RJGibson said...

This is a fantastic song! It was going to make my countdown this year but I couldn't find a good video.

Dolly was a fixture of my youth...I'd get absolutely fixated when she'd be lowered down for her tv show in the 70s.

Peter said...

C, A, P, RJ:
Happy Holidays. Glad you enjoyed.

On You Tube there are a lot of versions of this song. But I couldn't find a version by Seattle Men's Chorus. I only have it on CD. It's an even more amazing song when there are 160 men's voices singing it. The harmonies and the rhymes are wonderful.