Holiday Helpings: Don't Stand So Close To The Christmas Tree
Work Cited deliver bountiful helpings of holiday cheer – and a grave warning.
Here at HEAVE we’re all about getting into the Christmas Spirit, and what better way to spread the Christmas cheer, than singing loud for all to hear (that’s fucking right, we consult Elf for our holiday spirit advice). So from now until the Christmas our writers will be choosing some of their favorite holiday songs, one a day until Christmas.
Around this time of year it’s become pretty commonplace to see an influx of new holiday music. Sadly, in my own laziness, it’s taken me an extra year to discover this Christmas gem. One of my new favorite carols of the season has got to be “Don’t Stand So Close to the Christmas Tree” by Indianapolis folk duo, Work Cited.
Featured on last year’s compilation cd from Standard Records, A Very Standard Christmas Volume 2, this is in the running for my all-time favorite Christmas song. Work Citer, a side project of Everything, Now!, sounds like a mix between The Avett Brothers with the minimalism and dark humor of Andrew Jackson Jihad. Together the duo create a hilariously ominous yet lighthearted jingle.
Comprised mostly of acoustic guitar with some piano coming in near the end to give the song a strong soulful finish, the music itself is decent, but the real star here are the lyrics. “Don’t stand so close to the Christmas tree. ‘cause it’s creepy and wants to take you away from me,” or “The angel is frowning, like a demon dressed in white, something ‘bout that tree ain’t right,” sure get me in the spirit. The song ends with choruses of “Oh precious light shine on, shine on” until the song fades to close. As a gift (marketing strategy?) the album is available for download here for the low, low price of whatever you want (free). Or feel free to listen to this song alone below.
Posted by Andrew Scott on Dec 08, 2009 @ 11:00 am