Eight Punk Rock Christmas Songs

When many people think Christmas songs, they think about the traditional fare; songs from the 1940 to 1960s that are heartfelt and filled with either cheer or nostalgia. But not all Christmas songs are like that. In fact, there are some great punk songs that turn the concept of the holiday song on its head.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has compiled a list of eight punk rock Christmas songs to ignite the rage in you this holiday season. If you need a break from the traditional Christmas songs you hear on the radio, take a listen to these songs and give your holiday a new perspective.

1.       The Vandals, “Oi! To The World”: “Oi! To The World” is probably the most well-known song on this list, mostly because of No Doubt’s terrific ska cover of it, but was actually originally written and performed by The Vandals. This song brings about such a positive message; that all types of punks, no matter the music or background, can get along as one. Heartfelt! (video)

2.       Ramones, “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)”: The holidays are supposed to be a time of cheer and good will. So it’s only natural that you wouldn’t want to fight or break up on Christmas. (video)

3.       MXPX, “Christmas Night of the Living Dead”: Who doesn’t love a holiday filled with zombies eating peoples’ flesh? This fantastical piece follows a dream the narrator has about fighting zombies outside his window on Christmas night and ultimately becoming a zombie himself. By the way, MXPX has an entire album of Christmas music. (video)

4.       Blink-182, “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas”: The title may be a parody of the classic “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” but this song is anything but sweet. It is more of a realist view of how scary the people who go crazy for the holiday are and having to be nice to people you don’t like. There’s also a story in there about the narrator going to jail and literally not being home for Christmas. (video)

5.       Green Day, “Xmas Time of the Year”: Green Day’s recent comeback actually started in 2015 with “Xmas Time of the Year,” the band’s first song together since they released ‘Tre’ in 2012. The song is as cheerful as a Green Day Christmas song can be, that is, not very cheerful. Like many of the bands more recent songs, it hovers around the emptiness in the way people give thanks and wish others joy. (video)

6.       The Ravers, “(It’s Gonna Be A) Punk Rock Christmas”: This classically punk tune name drops just about every big punk band of the 1970s, including The Damned, Sex Pistols, Ramones, The Hot Rods and more. They even mention non-punk figures going punk for the day, including Santa. (video)

7.       NoFX, “Xmas Has Been X’ed”: This song is pretty anti-Christmas when you listen to the lyrics, but what else would you expect from NoFX? The band’s in-your-face political realism doesn’t take a break for the holidays. Fat Mike sings in his trademark gravely tone about Christmas is a “fable” and what would happen if the holiday were cancelled. (video)

8.       Rancid, “X-Mas Eve (She Got Up And Left Me)”: The antithesis of the Ramones song above, Rancid sing about the narrator’s girl actually getting up and leaving him on Christmas Eve. It’s less about Christmas and more about heartbreak set to a catchy pop-punk melody. (video)

While you might not think punk and Christmas go together, these songs beg to differ. Whether you’re interested in up-beat mosh-ers about good will, cynical takes on the holidays and its customs or fantastical stories about zombies, these songs are a perfect way to incorporate some punk rock spirit into your Christmas get-together.

Find both traditional and not-so-traditional Christmas music and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com, Long Island’s hottest new independent record shop! We have the largest selection of titles on the island, with thousands of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes and DVDs, as well as memorabilia, in-store and online. Still looking for that perfect holiday gift? Come down to Vinyl Bay 777 during our extended holiday hours!