Christmas Wrapping – English Lyrics

• By: The Waitresses
• Album: A Christmas Record

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the story behind The Waitresses' quirky Christmas hit, "Christmas Wrapping." Learn about the song's unique blend of new wave and rap influences, its relatable message of holiday connection, and how it became a lasting classic. Explore the lyrics and artist insights to understand why this song continues to resonate with listeners every holiday season.

[English]

Bah! Humbug!

Now that's too strong

'Cause it is my favorite holiday

But all this year's been a busy blur

Don't think I have the energy

To add to my already mad rush

Just 'cause it's 'tis the season

The perfect gift for me would be

Completions and connections left from last year

Ski shop encounter most interesting

Had his number but never the time

Most of '81 passed along those lines

So deck those halls

Trim those trees

Raise up cups of Christmas cheer

I just need to catch my breath

Christmas by myself this year

Calendar picture, frozen landscape

Chill this room for 24 days

Evergreens, sparkling snow

Get this winter over with!

Flash back to spring time, saw him again

Would have been good to go for lunch

Couldn't agree when we were both free

We tried, we said we'd keep in touch

Didn't of course, 'til summertime

Out to the beach, to his boat, could I join him?

No, this time it was me

Sunburn in the third degree

Now the calendar's just one page

Of course I am excited

Tonight's the night I've set my mind

Not to do too much about it

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

But I think I'll miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

But I think I'll miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

But I think I'll miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

But I think I'll miss this one this year

Hardly dashing through the snow

'Cause I bundled up too tight

Last minute have-to-dos

A few cards, a few calls

Because it's RSVP

No, thanks, no party lights

It's Christmas Eve, gonna relax

Turned down all of my invites

Last fall I had a night to myself

Same guy called; Halloween party

Waited all night for him to show

This time his car wouldn't go

Forget it, it's cold, it's getting late

Trudge on home to celebrate

In a quiet way, unwind

Doing Christmas right this time

A&P has provided me

With the world's smallest turkey

Already in the oven, nice and hot

Oh damn!

Guess what I forgot

So on with the boots

Back out in the snow

To the only all night grocery

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

In the line it's that guy I've been chasing all year

"Spendin' this one alone," he said

"Gimme a break, this year's been crazy"

I said, "Me too, but why are you

You mean, you forgot cranberries too?"

Then suddenly we laughed and laughed

Caught on to what was happening

That Christmas magic's brought this tale

To a very happy ending

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

Couldn't miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

Couldn't miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

Couldn't miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

Couldn't miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

Couldn't miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

Couldn't miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

Couldn't miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

Couldn't miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

Couldn't miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

Couldn't miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

Couldn't miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

Couldn't miss this one this year

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
blur /blɜːr/ B2	noun - a shape or area that you cannot see clearly verb - to become difficult to see clearly
rush /rʌʃ/ B1	noun - a situation in which you need to do something or go somewhere very quickly verb - to do something or go somewhere quickly
encounter /ɪnˈkaʊntər/ B2	noun - an unexpected meeting verb - to meet someone unexpectedly
deck /dek/ B2	verb - to decorate
trim /trɪm/ B2	verb - to decorate something, especially for Christmas
breath /breθ/ A2	noun - the air that goes into and out of your lungs
frozen /ˈfroʊzən/ A2	adjective - turned into ice
chill /tʃɪl/ B1	noun - an unpleasant feeling of cold verb - to make something cold
sparkling /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/ B2	adjective - shining brightly
sunburn /ˈsʌnbɜːrn/ A2	noun - red, sore skin caused by being in the sun too long
bundle /ˈbʌndl/ B2	verb - to dress someone in many clothes to keep them warm
relax /rɪˈlæks/ A2	verb - to become happy and comfortable because nothing is worrying you
forget /fərˈɡet/ A1	verb - to not remember something
chasing /ˈtʃeɪsɪŋ/ B1	verb - to run after someone or something in order to catch them
magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ A2	noun - the power to use supernatural forces to make impossible things happen

Key Grammar Structures

• Don't think I *have the energy* to add to my already mad rush.

  ➔ Use of the verb "have" to express possession (of energy).

  ➔ The phrase "have the energy" indicates a lack of motivation or physical capability. The speaker feels too overwhelmed to engage in holiday activities.

• The perfect gift *for me would be* completions and connections left from last year.

  ➔ Conditional "would be" expressing a hypothetical situation or wish.

  ➔ This uses the conditional "would be" to describe what the speaker desires - the completion of unfinished business and reconnection with people from the past. It emphasizes this is an ideal, perhaps unattainable, wish.

• Ski shop encounter most interesting; Had his number but *never the time*.

  ➔ Ellipsis: Omission of words (e.g., "I had" before "never the time") for brevity.

  ➔ The sentence "never the time" implies "I never had the time." This ellipsis is common in informal speech and songwriting, speeding up the pace.

• Wouldn't have been good *to go for lunch*.

  ➔ Past conditional perfect ("wouldn't have been") + infinitive phrase ("to go for lunch") to express an unrealized past possibility.

  ➔ This construction is used to talk about something that was possible in the past but didn't happen. The speaker is reflecting on the lost opportunity.

• We tried, we said *we'd keep in touch*.

  ➔ Contraction of "we would" to "we'd" indicating a future intention in the past (reported speech).

  ➔ "We'd keep in touch" represents what was said in the past as a plan for the future from that point of view. This is often used to convey intentions that weren't followed through.

• It's Christmas Eve, *gonna relax*.

  ➔ Informal contraction "gonna" (going to) indicating a future intention.

  ➔ "Gonna relax" is a colloquial way of saying "I am going to relax." The casual tone reflects the speaker's desire for a low-key Christmas.

• Guess *what I forgot*.

  ➔ Embedded question using "what" as the interrogative pronoun.

  ➔ This uses an embedded question to create a suspenseful and informal tone. The sentence structure, while grammatically correct, sounds conversational.

• When *what to my wondering eyes should appear*.

  ➔ Inversion of subject and auxiliary verb ("should appear") for emphasis and poetic effect.

  ➔ The typical sentence structure would be "what should appear to my wondering eyes." Inverting the order adds a dramatic and slightly archaic flair, reminiscent of classic Christmas tales.