Country's Christmas Bummers

11/30/2007 Stephen L. Betts Noting that “most artists nowadays include at least one downbeat track on their holiday collections,” Entertainment Weekly’s Chris Willman has compiled a list of the 100 Greatest Christmas Downers of All Time. While Judy Garland’s mournful 1944 Meet Me in St. Louis soundtrack version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” tops the list, not surprisingly country music is well-represented throughout the 100 tunes, including the No. 2 entry, Merle Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December,” and No. 3, Dwight Yoakam’s “Santa Can't Stay.” More Country Music Christmas Bummers from the list: 7. The Everly Brothers, “Christmas Eve Will Kill You” 9. Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison, “Please Daddy, Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas” 12. Reba McEntire, “Santa Claus Is Coming Back to Town” 17. Buck Owens, “Blue Christmas Lights” 19. Loretta Lynn, “Gift of the Blues” 24. Commander Cody, “Daddy’s Drinking Up Our Christmas” 28. Willie Nelson, “Pretty Paper” 31. Ralph Stanley, “Please Daddy, Don’t Make Us Cry on Christmas Day” 34. Del McCoury, “Call Collect on Christmas” 35. Nanci Griffith, “On Grafton Street” 36. Ernest Tubb, “I’ll Be Walking the Floor This Christmas” 40. Vince Gill, “It Won’t Be the Same This Year” 43. George Jones, “Lonely Christmas Call” 44. Loretta Lynn, “Christmas Without Daddy” 46. Bobby Bare, “Christmas at the Jersey Lily Lounge” 48. Ernest Tubb, “I’m Trimming My Christmas Tree With Teardrops” 50. Kitty Wells, “Christmas Ain’t Like Christmas Anymore” 52. Buck Owens, “It’s Christmas Time for Everyone but Me” 55. Johnny Paycheck, “Mommy for Awhile on Christmas Day” 57. Toby Keith, “Santa, I’m Right Here” 59. Jerry Lee Lewis, “I Can’t Have a Merry Christmas, Mary, Without You” 64. Billy Bob Thornton, “My Dreams of Christmas” 69. Taylor Swift, “Christmases When You Were Mine” 82. The Whites, “Christmas Without Mama” 83. John Prine, “Christmas in Prison” 86. Loretta Lynn, “I Won’t Decorate Your Christmas Tree” 87. Bob Wills, “Empty Chair at the Christmas Table” 89. Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison, “Shut In at Christmas” 90. Ernest Tubb, “Christmas Is Just Another Lonely Day” 91. John Prine, “All the Best” Check out the entire list at the Enterainment Weekly website