Merry Christmas Eve, y’all.
I hope you’re spending the day however you want, whether that’s with friends and family, somewhere beautiful on vacation, or something completely different, it’s the second most festive day of the year, and that’s important.
Y’all know how I feel about Christmas music (it’s not my favorite), but there is one song in particular that puts me in the Christmas mood every time, and that would be Alabama’s classic “Christmas In Dixie.” It was first released as a single in December of 1982 from the RCA Nashville compilation album A Country Christmas, and later included on Alabama’s first Christmas album released in 1985, Alabama Christmas.
In 2017, they by re-recorded an unplugged version their third Christmas album, American Christmas, which celebrated its 35th anniversary when they first released the song in 1982. It’s the only song credited solely to the four band members, and the one of only two songs to feature a songwriting credit for drummer Mark Herndon.
I really only listen to it on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, because if I listen to it too much, I honestly get too sad and kind of emo… it hits home for me as someone with very special holiday memories in the South, which they celebrate and describe absolutely perfectly.
Of course, I’m biased, but there’s just something so special about Christmas down here that I can’t quite put into words, though I’ll be honest, the thought of being somewhere actually cold, with snow on the ground, sounds pretty enchanting too… so if you’re lucky enough to always have a white Christmas where you celebrate, consider yourself lucky. I don’t even think I’ll have to wear a jacket outside today.
Alabama names several states and cities across the country in the verses, from up North and throughout the Southeast, including New York City, California, Chicago and Detroit, which are followed by two references to Memphis, Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia; Jackson, Mississippi and Charlotte, North Carolina (referred as “Caroline” in this song) and a final reference to Fort Payne, Alabama, which is the group’s hometown.
I grew up not too far from Charlotte, so it definitely holds a special place in my heart for that reason, and has this certain feeling of nostalgia woven throughout that I think everyone can relate to, even if you’re not from the South:
“It’s windy in Chicago, the kids are out of school
There’s magic in Motown, the city’s on the move
In Jackson, Mississippi to Charlotte, Caroline
And all across the nation, it’s a peaceful Christmas time
Christmas in Dixie, it’s snowing in the pines
Merry Christmas from Dixie to everyone tonight”
And their live performance of “Christmas In Dixie,” from the group’s 1995 TNN Special, will have you in the spirit in no time… this country Christmas classic is a cut above the rest, and I don’t think there’s anything else that compares. There’s certainly no other Christmas song that makes me feel the way this one does, and I will be listening to it all day long (and trying not to cry).
Wherever you’re spending this Christmas Eve, I hope it finds you blessed, warm and surrounded by people who love you. Merry Christmas, y’all.
Turn it up:
“Christmas In Dixie”