A Comprehensive Christmas Playlist: Classic and Alternative Xmas Songs

There is no perfect Christmas playlist: your Aunt can’t stand Slade and your little sister is sick of hearing ‘Mary’s Boy Child'; your partner is full of mainstream Christmas cheer and all you want this year is to be alternative, mopey and reflective. Welcome to the IWOOT list of Christmas songs that is equal parts mirth and misery, punk and pop, and, hopefully, wholly representative of the Christmas spirit!

'The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth'

David: What's happened to Hudson? Bing: I guess he's changing. David: Yeah, he does that a lot doesn't he. Oh, I'm David Bowie. I live down the road. Classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXjbI3kRus

'Lonely This Christmas'

'Try to imagine a house that's not a home Try to imagine a Christmas all alone That's where I'll be since you left me'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ6kJ7GWtv0

'Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)'

'I love you and you love me And that's the way it's got to be I loved you from the start 'Cause Christmas ain't the time for breaking each other's hearts'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y5GtaTrPHMVideo source: YouTube

'Won't Be Home For Christmas'

'It's Christmas time again It's time to be nice to the people you can't stand all year I'm growing tired of all this Christmas cheer'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy9_JjLnmZIVideo source: YouTube

'Christmas Will Break Your Heart'

'Christmas will shove you down So just lay back in the snow That quite wind won't wake What inside you has grown cold [...] But still I'm coming home to you'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3kPH2MJzlgVideo source: YouTube

'Driving Home for Christmas'

'Driving home for Christmas With a thousand memories I take a look at the driver next to me He's just the same Just the same'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THcbQyFtCqgVideo source: YouTube

'Stop the Cavalry'

The ultimate anti-(Cold) War Christmas lyric: 'I have had to fight Almost every night Down throughout these centuries That is when I say Oh yes, yet again Can you stop the cavalry? Mary Bradley waits at home In the nuclear fall-out zone Wish I could be dancing now In the arms of the girl I love'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HkJHApgKqwVideo source: YouTube

'Christmas in Hollis'

'It was December 24th on Hollis Ave in the dark When I see a man chilling with his dog in the park I approached very slowly with my heart full of fear Looked at his dog, oh my god, an ill reindeer!'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR07r0ZMFb8Video source: YouTube

'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree'

'You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear Voices singing, "Let's be jolly, Deck the halls with boughs of holly", Rockin' around the Christmas Tree, Have a happy holiday'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTPzDsgvYvsVideo source: YouTube

'All I Want For Christmas Is You'

''cause I just want you here tonight Holding on to me so tight What more can I do? Baby, all I want for Christmas is you'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMYVideo source: YouTube

'Last Christmas'

'Last Christmas, I gave you my heart But the very next day, you gave it away This year, to save me from tears I'll give it to someone special'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlIVideo source: YouTube

'Fairytale of New York'

'You were handsome You were pretty Queen of New York City When the band finished playing They howled out for more Sinatra was swinging All the drunks they were singing We kissed on the corner Then danced through the night

The boys of the NYPD choir Were singing 'Galway Bay' And the bells were ringing out For Christmas Day' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8Video source: YouTube