about
"Xmas'd Up Again" is a continuation/tribute to the Jethro Tull Christmas song tradition of highlighting the importance of strong drink to the yuletide celebration. "Messed up" being an east coast term of the 80s for getting drunk or whatever.
For a while I kept going back and forth on how to spell the song title: "Xmas'd" or "Xmessed" or "Chrismessed" or...? I settled on "Xmas'd," but you still may find it spelled some other way in my collection of literature.
I myself have never been much for drinking or drugging, so I don't have a lot of emotional investment in the lyrics of this one beyond the fun plays on words, ("Three ships to the wind" or especially "making a list, but I'm still standing".)
Adding the riff from "The First Noel" onto "Xmas'd Up Again" I've always been particularly proud of. If you don't recognize it, it's the "...born is the ki-ing of I-is-ra-el..." part.
A day or two later we all went into the tv studio to tape the 2nd Christmas show, "I Saw Daddy Cursing Santa Claus," and Eric was there with his kit and some eyeball specs, faking along. My son, Little vonHummer Jr., II. was there, too, faking guitar and goofing around and it's a great memory to look back on.
lyrics
"Xmas'd Up Again"
(vonHummer)
Dashing through the snow with my nose aglow, Three ships to the wind: Xmas’d up again…
So much for silent night, we decked the halls all right, we three kings offend: Xmas’d up again…
Making a list and I’m checking it twice cos I’m feeling so merry that I can’t see straight tonight…
Come all ye faithful you, Santa Claus is coming to, A peace on Earth given: Xmas’d up again…
(interlude)
Making a list and but I’m still standing, friend, I’ll be under house arrest for Xmas, Xmas’d up again…
Feliz my navidad, Hark, the Herald’s mad, Joy to the world in spin: Xmas’d up again…
Xmas’d up again...
credits
from
6Noons,
released December 2, 2002
Drone bass, high drone guitar, vocals: vonHummer
Drums: Eric Olsen
license