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YRS XMAS

by YEARS

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May each bell that sounds lift up a heart that's been weighed down. Let them be found ringing out life from the cold. Many our hearts are to mend but Still come these longs nights when our hours are spent Hoping this Christmastime will come right where we are. Maybe we'll find an answer wrapped inside a box under the tree, But me and my friends would rather be set free. My friend its not only about what we've lost, But the grief in our hearts fights hard for its turn to be heard. But if just for this time, let us surrender our pride And not long for anything but peace in our hearts. Maybe we'll find an answer wrapped inside a box under the tree, But me and my friends would rather be set free. How white is the snow until everyone goes outside! Maybe we'll find an answer wrapped inside a box under the tree, Or wander downtown to the fountain Where the brightest lights keep the ice from freezing. Still the bells keep on ringing though its ten below, Christmas Eve, May we finally be set free.
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I was lying on the couch and I was shaking still. All the snow had rained away and trickled on downhill. Cold winds blowing through the bones of this old house. You keep going, I'm through stopping you now. When the needles start to grey I will burn them too, and these creases on my face will leave the only proof. Old wounds glowing in the lights I've strung up now. Days keep rolling, I'm not stopping them now. I hear silent nights are here, colder than I feared, to ring in the next year. It's still a promise unfulfilled, and your signs of goodwill are ringing in my ears. I give up. Waste my love. While you're dreaming of ice freezing, I'm pleading, "Day be done." I try singing, my eyes stinging, "God bless us everyone."
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Hang your hopes on this branch. The lights flash and dance around the dreams I've been dreaming. Your little hands in my gloves, are you warm enough? Because you look like you're freezing. I don't rest a wink until you're sleeping on my right. We're counting down the days and the cold nights. It's another week away, but I'm leaving on the lights all night. Now we're just passing time. Sleep light, we'll watch the streetlights form a halo of white until there are blankets outside. Stay in, we'll watch the same things again. We'll send a message to friends: "Yeah, we'll be just fine." The shovel broke in two. The plows, they don't come through until noon.
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Living now what I have left with the weight still in my chest. I breathe the season and felt it in your kiss. It won't be long until it ends. We'll put the boxes back under the bed. If it kills us we'll mean it like it's the last chance we'll get. But you don't have to sing alone. Because I'm coming home through the fresh, white fallen snow. It might take a minute, but I'm not going to miss it. I know, I know, they've been closing down the roads, but you're gonna see me. Leave the lights on, I'm leaving now. Do you remember last year? Two inches of ice were on your passenger mirror. When I came to get you your tears had frozen in your hair. And all of the blankets you used to get warm? Two hours with the heat pad, then three or four more. Is that when I lost you? Sometimes I still feel alone. The trees grow and groan with the weight of melting snow. I'd take a feeling over any kind of meaning. So, if you're gonna go, wait till no one else is home, but make sure you mean it if you're thinking of leaving. Away in our lonely bed, I lay down my sweet head. The stars in the sky look down. I heard the bells ring out, and old familiar carols sound. The hopes and fears of one more night. But I turned out the lights.
13.
is it christmas yet, the leaves are cold and brown? the lights are green and red at every shop in town. the sugarplums won't dance when you can't stop your mind to rest, so make your christmas lists as soon as you forget. geez, you guys! jesus christ, you'd come back soon if you really did know what's right. is it christmas yet, or has it been too long? we used to dream and wait but all our dreams are gone when little children rest soundly in their beds and moms and dad stay up stuck inside their heads.
14.
It’s been a long ten months since I’ve hugged my old man. My mother asked me, “Is this thing we do really living?” I lied through my teeth. Last week I prayed again to calm myself down. But god wasn’t in, he can’t be reached. The angels have all been laid off. It’s been a real hard year. Fa la la la la Fa la la la la Hang up the lights in July. Take down the tree in June (if you have to). If we make it through this alive, it’ll be alright. We’ll be alright?
15.
High and low, I'm searching high and low for what I used to know on Xmas. The child I was, still learning about love from someone big enough to crush me. With beaming eyes, less than even half your size, hoping just to be by your side for minutes. Jesus Christ in your mouth sounded right enough for me to try just like you. All those months from the first to the last one before the bells are wrung move so slowly. Then Xmas comes sure enough it always does. And you're singing the songs of love and peace. I'm 5'10" close to 40 remembering when you taught me what love meant at your feet.
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Peace, don't miss this house. Hovering above, you're the snow in the clouds waiting to see what green can last till spring. What are you waiting to see? Please stay with me now I've been so alone and there's so much room in this house. Will you join me and sing the lead or harmony? We could sing anything. I climb with my sled up old Devol hill, my breath hangs and I smile until I slide back down to the bottom again and get back in my car and drive back home. When I open my door and walk in on my own I see for myself such a beautiful home, such bountiful wealth. I'm fine. I'm fine, I'm doing just fine.

about

A collection of Christmas singles recorded from 2009-2022.

Hello,

I'm really happy to say that for this year's song our old friend and guitarist Zach McNulty joined us. Zach was a huge influence on me in the mid 2000's and I stole many of his tricks, but didn't do them quite as well as he does. What he adds to this song is VERY McNulty and in the absolute best way.

It's weird to still be doing this. I'll be honest, some years I think it's not gonna happen (and some years it probably shouldn't have *ahem 2017*) but when the song starts to come together, it always reminds me how fun these songs can be.

I hope you're doing as well as can be expected (and hopefully even better than that). I hope you have people you love and people who love you. I hope you are able to re-capture at least a little bit of the magic you felt when you were a child still amazed at the small things.

See you next year.

-Jordan, on behalf of Duane, Adam, Tory, and Zach
YEARS

credits

released December 12, 2012

All songs recorded and mixed by Jordan Banks, except Hang Our Hopes - recorded and mixed by Steffen Yazvac.

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YEARS Indianapolis, Indiana

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