No Christmas In Kentucky - Phil Ochs

Christmas shoppers shopping on a neon city street

Another Christmas dollar for another Christmas treat

There’s satin on the pretty dolls that make the children glow

While a boy walking ragged in the cold Kentucky snow

No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky

There’s no holly on a West Virginia door

For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry

And the Jingle Bells don’t jingle when you’re poor

There’s lots of toys for children when then Christmas time is near

But the present for the miners is a stocking full of beer

In the dark hills of Kentucky there’s one gift that may be found

The coal dust of forgotten days that’s lying on the ground

No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky

There’s no holly on a West Virginia door

For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry

And the Jingle Bells don’t jingle when you’re poor

Let’s drink a toast to Congress and a toast to Santa Claus

And a toast to all the speeches that bring the loud applause

There’s not enough to give, no, there’s not enough to share

So let’s drown the sounds of sorrow with a hearty Christmas cheer

No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky

There’s no holly on a West Virginia door

For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry

And the Jingle Bells don’t jingle when you’re poor

Have a merry, merry Christmas and a happy new year’s day

For now’s a time of plenty, and plenty’s here to stay

But if you knew what Christmas was, I think that you would find

That Christ is spending Christmas in the cold Kentucky mine

No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky

There’s no holly on a West Virginia door

For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry

And the Jingle Bells don’t jingle when you’re poor