December is here! While it’s time for freezing walks to class and cramming for finals, it’s also time to set it all to a festive soundtrack! If you’re insane like me, you’ve been listening to your Christmas playlist since November. However, one of my favorite genres of Christmas music is the sad Christmas songs. Songs about heartbreak, loneliness, and contemplating the world are a welcome addition to your holiday season.
Merry Christmas, Darling– The Carpenters
This is one of my favorite vintage Christmas songs ever. It’s one of those songs about being alone on the holidays and yearning for the ones you love, perfect for a sad playlist.
Last Christmas– WHAM!
I don’t need to explain this one. It’s the perfect mash of campy 80’s pop, Christmas, and lonely angst, what else is there? It’s one of those songs that sound really happy before you realize what the lyrics mean. It’s a classic that deserves a spot on your Christmas playlist no matter what its vibe is.
Santa Tell Me– Ariana Grande
Even if you don’t like pop-y Christmas music, just like Last Christmas, this song combines upbeat sounds, Christmas, and loneliness into a catchy song to carry you through the season before realizing that it’s kind of sad at first.
Someday at Christmas– Stevie Wonder
There are two kinds of sad Christmas music: the kind about being heartbroken and lonely and the kind about how depraved the world is at a time that is supposed to be full of joy and giving, like this one.,. At least the song is hopeful in the end.
Do They Know it’s Christmas?– Band Aid
Written as a charity effort in the ’80s, this song is again perfect if you lean towards older music and vintage sounds. Just like the above, it’s the kind of song that asks: “Can we even celebrate at a time like this when there is hunger and pain all around us?” Add this to your playlist for a dose of existentialism.
Hard Candy Christmas– Dolly Parton
I may be biased because it’s my favorite Christmas song ever sung by one of the most amazing and kind artists ever, but Hard Candy Christmas is a must in your list of sad Christmas songs. The song is about how she doesn’t know what to do with herself, being so miserable and alone at such a happy time of year, but ultimately knowing that she has to make it through somehow.
Please Come Home for Christmas– Eagles
Though not the first recording of this song, it’s probably the most famous rendition out of all of them. Like a lot of songs on this list, this one is about being lonely on Christmas and waiting for the one you love, hoping it’s not in vain.