![\"This](\"https:\/\/ayearofsongs.org\/ayearofsongs\/images\/blogimages\/ThisChristmasIsDifferent.jpg\")
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C<\/span>hristmas 1983 was stormy and wet. One storm would blow out and another would be on its heels. The occasional shaft of sunlight poking through the clouds seemed like a miraculous reassurance.<\/p>\n It was wet and I was soggy most of the time. In those days I had to use a cane because of complications subsequent to a very nasty motorcycle wreck. Walking, even standing, was often painful, especially in the rain — but I was in school and working on a handful of school and realworld recording projects for other people. And I was young and determined to make the most of my forced time outside the 9-to-5 grind. (I don’t mean to make that sound heroic in the slightest… except that I<\/span> look back on that era and think, Damn, where’s that guy now that I need him?<\/span>)<\/p>\n I was between entanglements… uh, I mean I wasn’t involved in a deep interpersonal relationship that Christmas. And Christmas wasn’t my best time of year in the best of years.<\/p>\n So, I was bracing myself, with this song, for some proper yuletide melancholy and<\/span> writing myself a pseudo-ritualized gameplan for dealing with the day. Like the lonely spinster secretary with her carefully planned holiday dinners for one, I knew avoiding unexpected decisions, second thoughts, or anything but carefully channeled contemplation was a risk not worth taking.<\/p>\n Now… in one of my few nods to preparation or research for my AYoS posts, I looked at last year’s post that accompanied the then-new acoustic version of this song. And — while I know it will only add to snowballing ambiguity regarding my credibility and the literal truthfulness of my scriblings — I have to say that I do not<\/span> now remember Christmas 1983 as I described it. I was <\/span>drinking brandy in my coffee and I did<\/span> put the Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” on my stereo (as well<\/span> as Brian Eno). I think I simply wasn’t prepared, last year, to admit<\/span> that I would purposefully — if lightheartedly — live out the scenario I’d just written.<\/p>\n Ah, but that was then. <\/span>I’m so much younger than that now. This Christmas<\/span> Special note: you may need to use your tone\/EQ controls on your media player to tame some high frequency nastiness in this nearly quarter century old 4 track recording. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n![\"Merry](\"https:\/\/ayearofsongs.org\/ayearofsongs\/images\/blogimages\/Sophie-200-Christmas.jpg\")
\nThis is my new kitty, Sophie. She’s not mad; her ears just do that. <\/span>
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\nHappy holidays to you all!<\/span><\/p>\n
\n(original Avant-Garage Holiday Songwriting Festival version, 1983)<\/span><\/p>\n