Suddenly It's Christmas - Loudon Wainwright III

Suddenly it’s Christmas

Right after Hallowe’en

Forget about Thanksgiving;

It’s just a buffet in between

There’s lights and tinsel in the windows;

They’re stocking up the shelves;

Santa’s slaving at the North Pole

In his sweatshop full of elves

There’s got to be a build-up

To the day that Christ was born:

The halls are decked with pumpkins

And the ears of Indian corn

Dragging through the falling leaves

In a one-horse open sleigh

Suddenly it’s Christmas

Seven weeks before the day

Suddenly it’s Christmas

The longest holiday

When they say «Season's Greetings»

They mean just what they say:

It’s a season, it’s a marathon

Retail eternity

It’s not over till it’s over

And you throw away the tree

Outside it’s positively balmy

In the air nary a nip;

Suddenly it’s Christmas

Unbuttoned and unzipped

Yes, they’re working overtime

Santa’s little runts;

Christmas comes but once a year

And goes on for two months

Christmas carols in December

And November, too;

It’s no wonder we’re depressed

When the whole thing is through

Finally it’s January;

Let’s sing «Auld Lang Syne»;

But here comes another heartache

Shaped like a Valentine

Suddenly it’s Christmas

The longest holiday

The season is upon us;

A pox, it won’t go away

It’s a season, it’s a marathon

Retail eternity

It’s not over till it’s over

And you throw away the tree

No, it’s not over till it’s over

And you throw away the tree;

It’s still not over till it’s over

And you throw away the tree