Story Behind The Song

Christmas 2023 was not a typical Minnesota Christmas. For the first time in a very long time, there was no snow. Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day it rained, and all our plans with family and friends cancelled. This was the 5th Christmas without my family as both mom and dad had passed pre-pandemic and my sister and her family live in Seattle, and I was feeling a certain way. I wrote the lyrics Christmas Day and the music followed shortly thereafter. I took some of the feelings I was feeling and realized others out there must be having the same kinds of feelings. I wrote "Doesn't Feel Like Christmas (Without You)" for those feeling an absence of someone--or something--that was important to them. It could be a lover, friends, parents, a pet... any kind of loss is amplified this time of year. I harkened back to the nostalgic sounds of the Christmas music I grew up with--Andy Williams and Dean Martin. I pay homage to holiday classics "A Charlie Brown Christmas", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", and "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer" in the bridge section. I wanted it to feel familiar and seasonal because the season goes on no matter what has transpired in each of our lives. Doesn't Feel Like Christmas (Without You) was written, performed, recorded and mixed in the Forgiveness Unity Studios in Plymouth, MN by Paul David with the amazing Alex Maiers on guitars.

Song Description

A group of friends hanging around a campfire, singing their new favorite Christmas song.

Lyrics

#Chorus
Choirs are singing about some silent night
It rings so hollow without you in the candlelight
I would trade it all to hear "I love you" one more time
Can't shake this feelin', no it doesn't feel like Christmas without you

#Verse
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care
But there's no snow on the ground there's no nip in the air
Just a plastic snowman to muster some holiday cheer
Artificial greetings--recycled joy this year

#Verse
The lights on the tree twinkle white, red and green
All the memories hung on the bows in between
The one you gave me when you were still here
Hangs front-and-center--same place every year

#Chorus
And the choirs are singing about some silent night
It rings so hollow without you in the candlelight
I would trade it all to hear "I love you" one more time
Can't shake this feelin', no it doesn't feel like Christmas without you

#Bridge
While Shroder lays some grooves down
The Grinch and Max come to town
And Rudolph hides his shiny nose
The silver bells keep mumblin'
The Christmas Cards keep comin' in
"'tis the season," so I'm told

#Chorus
And the choirs are singing about some silent night
It rings so hollow without you in the candlelight
I would trade it all to hear "I love you" one more time
Can't shake this feelin', no it doesn't feel like Christmas without you

#Chorus
And the choirs are singing about some silent night
It rings so hollow without you in the candlelight
I would trade it all to hear "I love you" one more time
Can't shake this feelin', no it doesn't feel like Christmas without you