Popular (NOT) Christmas Songs

Non-Holiday-Holiday Songs

I've probably missed a few, but these are my top four songs that are most commonly associated with Christmas, but have absolutely nothing at all to do with the holiday, nor with any other holiday.

I'm not even going to get into the whole sacred vs secular Christmas debate. This post is dedicated to a pet peeve of mine, which is that these songs are regarded as holiday songs, when nothing could be further from the truth. 

They're all lovely songs, and I enjoy them. But they're not Christmas songs by any standard of measurement.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

It's more of a booty call than a holiday song.

(I really can't stay) But, baby, it's cold outside
(I've got to go away) But, baby, it's cold outside
(This evening has been) Been hoping that you'd drop in
(So very nice) I'll hold your hands they're just like ice

(My mother will start to worry) Beautiful, what's your hurry
(My father will be pacing the floor) Listen to the fireplace roar
(So really I'd better scurry) Beautiful, please don't hurry
(Well, maybe just half a drink more) Put some records on while I pour

(The neighbors might think) Baby, it's bad out there
(Say what's in this drink) No cabs to be had out there
(I wish I knew how) Your eyes are like starlight now
(To break this spell) I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell

(I ought to say no, no, no, sir) Mind if I move in closer
(At least I'm gonna say that I tried) What's the sense of hurting my pride
(I really can't stay) Baby, don't hold doubt
[Both] Baby, it's cold outside

(I simply must go) Baby, it's cold outside
(The answer is no) Baby, it's cold outside
(The welcome has been) How lucky that you dropped in
(So nice and warm) Look out the window at the storm

(My sister will be suspicious) Gosh your lips look delicious
(My brother will be there at the door) Waves upon a tropical shore
(My maiden aunt's mind is vicious) Gosh your lips are delicious
(But maybe just a cigarette more) Never such a blizzard before

(I got to get home) But, baby, you'd freeze out there
(Say lend me a coat) It's up to your knees out there
(You've really been grand) I thrill when you touch my hand
(But don't you see) How can you do this thing to me

(There's bound to be talk tomorrow) Think of my life long sorrow
(At least there will be plenty implied) If you caught pneumonia and died
(I really can't stay) Get over that old doubt
[Both] Baby, it's cold
[Both] Baby, it's cold outside

Source: Complete lyrics to Baby It's Cold Outside

(Walking in a) Winter Wonderland

Or, "let's go play in the snow."

Sleigh bells ring
Are you listening?
In the lane
Snow is glistening.
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away, is the bluebird.
Here to stay, is a new bird.
He sings a love song,
While we go along,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he is Parson Brown.
He'll say Are you married?
We'll say No Man.
But you can do the job
When you're in town.

Later on
We'll conspire,
As we dream by the fire,
To face unafraid
The plans that we've made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he's a circus clown.
We'll have lots of fun with Mr. Snowman
Until the other kids knock him down.

When it snows
Ain't it thrilling
Though your nose is a chilling?
We'll frolic and play the Eskimo way,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

A beautiful sight were happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Source: Complete Lyrics to Winter Wonderland

Sleigh Ride

As the title plainly says, it's a sleigh-riding song. That doesn't mean you can't ride a sleigh after December 25th. This at least has a reference to a birthday party, and although it's at Farmer Gray's house, I don't think we should assume it's a birthday party for Christ.

Just hear those sleigh bells jingle-ing
Ring ting tingle-ing too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you

Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling "Yoo Hoo"
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you

Giddy-yap giddy-yap giddy-yap
let's go
Let's look at the snow
We're riding in a wonderland of snow

Giddy-yap giddy-yap giddy-yap it's grand
Just holding your hand
We're gliding along with the song
Of a wintry fairy land

Our cheeks are nice and rosy
And comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together like two
Birds of a feather would be

Let's take the road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you

There's a birthday party at the home of Farmer Gray

It'll be the perfect ending of a perfect day
We'll be singing the songs we love to sing without a single stop
At the fireplace while we watch the chestnuts pop
Pop! Pop! Pop!

There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy
When they pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie
It'll nearly be like a picture print by Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things
We remember all through our lives

Source: Complete Lyrics to Sleigh Ride

And now we come to the Grandaddy of all non-holiday-holiday songs...

Jingle Bells

Another sleigh-riding song, with a little booty call action included in the last verse. It's a fine song, but the lyrics have as much to do with Christmas as the cover version with the dogs barking (which happens to be one of my favorites).

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bobtail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight!

(chorus)
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way.
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way;
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

Although less well-known than the opening, the remaining verses depict high-speed youthful fun. In the second verse, the narrator takes a ride with a girl and loses control of the sleigh:-

A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon, Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side,
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
He got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot.

|: chorus:|

In the next verse (which is often skipped), he falls out of the sleigh and a rival laughs at him:

A day or two ago,
The story I must tell
I went out on the snow,
And on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by
In a one-horse open sleigh,
He laughed as there I sprawling lie,
But quickly drove away.

|: chorus:| 

In the last verse, after relating his experience, he gives equestrian advice to a friend to pick up some girls, finds a faster horse, and take off at full speed:

Now the ground is white
Go it while you're young,
Take the girls tonight
and sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bobtailed?bay
Two forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack! you'll take the lead.

|: chorus:|

Source: Complete Lyrics to Jingle Bells

Are there any that I've missed?