Suddenly It's Christmas
Composer(s): Loudon Wainwright III
Performer(s): Loudon Wainwright III


Suddenly it's Christmas
Right after Hallowe'en
Forget about Thanksgiving
It's just a buffet in between
There's lights and tinsel in the windows
They're stocking up the shelves
Santa's slaving at the North Pole
In his sweatshop full of elves

There's got to be a build-up
To the day that Christ was born
The halls are decked with pumpkins
And the ears of Indian corn
Dragging through the falling leaves
In a one-horse open sleigh
Suddenly it's Christmas
Seven weeks before the day

Suddenly it's Christmas
The longest holiday
When they say "Season's Greetings"
They mean just what they say
It's a season, it's a marathon
Retail eternity
It's not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree

Outside it's positively balmy
In the air nary a nip
Suddenly it's Christmas
Unbuttoned and unzipped
Yes, they're working overtime
Santa's little runts
Christmas comes but once a year
And goes on for two months

Christmas carols in December
And November, too
It's no wonder we're depressed
When the whole thing is through
Finally it's January
Let's sing "Auld Lang Syne"
But here comes another heartache
Shaped like a Valentine

Suddenly it's Christmas
The longest holiday
The season is upon us
A pox, it won't go away
It's a season, it's a marathon
Retail eternity
It's not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree

No, it's not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree
It's still not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree