music

NEW MUSIC: What She Said (I don’t like Xmas)

December 18, 2012

This is a song I recorded over the past few months and wrote back in December… December of 1993 to be more specific. The worst part of being 40 is realizing that the shit you did in college happened twenty years ago. Twenty years ago!

At the time of penning this song I had just transferred to the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia and lived in a house with some eccentric and unbalanced self-medicating housemates.

My girlfriend at the time wasn’t a big fan of the holidays–one of my (many) nicknames she gave me was “Mr. Christmas.”

Ya see… Christmas was a huge event growing up in my household. At least it was during my childhood years. It’s something that has definitely woven its way into adulthood as I tend to go overboard with the lights and the decorations… the presents… the parties… the eggnog… the Johnny Mathis… A Charlie Brown Christmas. The list goes on and on.

To no one’s delight, I become sentimental at this time of year–at times becoming glassy-eyed and/or exhaustingly moody. Sadly, as the excitement of the holidays dissipates with each passing year, it becomes more and more difficult to experience even the smallest modicum of enchantment. What used to be a bright, colorful and shiny foray into the darkened days of winter now feels like la chose a faire.

“I’m dreaming tonight of a place I love even more than I usually do… and although I know it’s a long road back… I promise you…”

Sing it Johnny.

And this, my friends, is what doggy santa hats are for! Nothing snaps me out of a Christmas funk like putting fake reindeer antlers on the cat. “Who’s a tiny Reindeer?! You’re a tiny Reindeer! Yes you are!”

Godiva (RIP) and Sophie

Of course, this song was written in the early-summer stage of my then chartreuse leaf-colored life. The possibilities! Had I written this song today it probably would’ve involved someone slowly drowning trying to rescue a baby whale (that also dies).

Lyrically the song suggests a visceral construct of Christmas and winter–only to be lightly bludgeoned with “I don’t like Christmas”. But I don’t think the narrator minds much as there’s still hope. Or something.

What She Said (I don’t like xmas)

music and lyrics D. Ziegler-Voll ©1993-2012

this house is old, I said this house is old
rusted tin cans lined up in a row
barbed wire, color true and true
golden fields, a harvest overdue

what she said I thought I heard
angels singing o’er the plain
I mistook those thoughts I read
I don’t like xmas is what she said

my hands are cold, there’s still a ways to go
I see that winter bitter smell of snow
calling cheer, a tractor steers to die
she spots a bird, it’s perched and then it flies

comfort here, or comfort on the couch
comfort there I think I love this house
coffee’s on, windows painted frost
next year we’re here never to be lost

and all of the things I asked for…
I never thought to ask for this

I was thinking of posting a recording of this same song that I recorded on a Roland VS-880 in 1999, but I figured that (naturally) everyone would like the older rougher version better. So you only get the newer slightly better version. Don’t worry, there are plenty of mistakes on this version for your enjoyment.

Please add this to your holiday collection… free Mp3 download here.

 

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5 Comments

  • Avatar
    Reply Robere December 18, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    Absolutely incredible. I love this. I think ythis is the best I’ve heard. And the commentary is awesome. Well done, David. Very well done.

  • Avatar
    Reply Rbjones December 19, 2012 at 1:15 am

    I needed that

  • Avatar
    Reply Zelda December 21, 2012 at 8:25 am

    This is so bittersweet and lovingly ambivalent. How do you do it? Great song!

  • Reply healthy, simple, easy breakfast tacos December 23, 2012 at 12:44 am

    […] Over the past year I’ve lost about 20 pounds and basically had to ditch 1/2 of my wardrobe. Not that I was really over-weight–more like “filled out”. I realize not everyone wants to hear how I managed to get my BMI back to days of college-yore–so either keep reading, or instead listen to this cheerful xmas song. […]

  • Reply some 8mm footage on this christmas morning | david the tornado December 25, 2014 at 4:57 pm

    […] song I wrote a million years ago and recorded a few years back… you can read more about it here if you wish. If you are in need of new xmas music for your holiday library, you can download the track for […]

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