Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Going outside, shoveling snow in the driveway, driveway
Taking our shoes, riding a sled down the hillside, hillside
Can you say what you want? Can you say what you want to be?
Can you be what you want? Can you be what you want?
Our father yells, throwing the gifts in the wood stove, wood stove
My sister runs away, taking her books to the schoolyard, schoolyard
In time the snow will rise, in time the snow will rise
In time the Lord will rise, in time the Lord will rise
Silent night, holy night
Silent night, nothing feels right
Taking our shoes, riding a sled down the hillside, hillside
Can you say what you want? Can you say what you want to be?
Can you be what you want? Can you be what you want?
Our father yells, throwing the gifts in the wood stove, wood stove
My sister runs away, taking her books to the schoolyard, schoolyard
In time the snow will rise, in time the snow will rise
In time the Lord will rise, in time the Lord will rise
Silent night, holy night
Silent night, nothing feels right
Lyrics submitted by tiredgorilla
That Was the Worst Christmas Ever! Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Step
Ministry
Ministry
Techno Ted
Audioslave
Audioslave
Techno Ted may be a person who caused Chris incredible emotional pain & trepidation as well as moments of peace & happiness but now is removed and awaiting his fate. Darling may be a different person who is also free of him and can live her life free of Ted's tyranny. "In between all the laughing, and daydreams ... lies: a desert of truth" Lies are like a desert or the omission of Truth: Where there were Lies then Truth was absent. The song, "Techno Ted", may be a cathartic celebration of the downfall of this person.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
this song is fucking AMAZING. captures every feeling i have about coming home for xmas (mainly just the feel of the song, not just the lyrics). reminds me of many days past when it snowed and school would get cancelled.
i think it's "nothing feels right" for the last tline...
The whole series of christmas albums is fucking beautiful. I wish we could listen to this at work instead of the christmas bullshit on the radio.
That said, I think this song is pretty clear. His family had a big fight on christmas day, his father burned their gifts and his sister ran away from home. "in time the snow will rise" is about just looking forward to spring and knowing that every family has problems and they'll be ok. From hearing him talk about his childhood at the show, it sounded like he had a pretty good family life, so I don't get the impression that this christmas was typical. Especially the exclamation point in the title, it gives the impression that they can look back on it and laugh about it.
Does anyone know what album this song is off of? I never knew Sufjan did a song like this.
it's from his series "songs for christmas" vol I & II
anyone knows of it is released on cd?
i know that you can get these christmas songs off of many mp3 blogs. i guess start google-ing away.
just buy the boxed set. it has all sorts of christmas goodies!! theres an essay in it that deals specifically with this song, and his feelings about christmas in general. his dad would start taking on extra jobs, joining clubs, etc. to try to get away from the house during the christmas season. his mom would spend loads of money they didnt have to try to make christmas perfect, and when she got too stressed out she would through a random gift in the woodstove to calm herself down or something. i think he said he started to hate christmas after all this, being stuck at home with his family and all this shit going on. and he decided not to celebrate it anymore. and writing these christmas songs was his way of getting back in touch with 'That Creepy Christmas Feeling'. Thats my summary. but you should really read it! :)
to the person who was saying the meaning of this song- i don't think the father literally burnt the gifts...i think it's a metaphor
also, as of december 24th 2006 it is the free download of the week on itunes
such an awsome song.