You've Likely Never Played These Songs At Christmas
Every December, the same handful of Christmas songs swirl through the air like cinnamon-scented snowflakes. And look—we love them! But beyond the classics lies a treasure trove of festive tunes that don’t get nearly enough love. These songs are quirky, moving, surprisingly funky, and in many cases adored by music nerds everywhere—just not famous enough to dominate your local mall playlist. If you’re ready to sleigh your holiday listening with deep cuts and hidden gems, unwrap these underrated Christmas delights.
The Staple Singers – “Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas”
The Staple Singers bring soulful warmth to this socially conscious holiday track. With tight harmonies and Mavis Staples’ unmistakable voice, it’s a reminder that Christmas spirit is built on community and compassion, not consumerism. It grooves, it moves, and somehow still feels festive.
Willie Nelson – “Pretty Paper”
Before Roy Orbison made it better known, Willie Nelson’s original version was a tender, aching ballad inspired by a disabled street vendor he once saw. Sparse and intimate, Nelson’s voice carries a soft melancholy that gives the season emotional depth.
Bob Jagendorf from Manalapan, NJ, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Joni Mitchell – “River”
Not exactly merry—but absolutely essential. “River” blends longing, memory, and winter imagery into one of the most quietly devastating Christmas-adjacent songs ever written. It's beloved by musicians, but far from mainstream holiday rotation.
Clarence Carter – “Back Door Santa”
A rollicking, horn-heavy R&B jam that later inspired Run-D.M.C.’s “Christmas In Hollis.” Carter’s swaggering delivery makes this the most mischievous sleigh ride you’ll take this season.
John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Cocteau Twins – “Frosty The Snowman”
The Cocteau Twins take a children’s classic and transform it into a shimmering, ethereal dream. Elizabeth Fraser’s vocals float like ice crystals, turning “Frosty” into something otherworldly.
The Free Design – “Close Your Mouth (It’s Christmas)”
A quirky, sunshine-pop masterpiece, this track feels like a technicolor holiday card. The message: be kind, forgive, and don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s sweet without being saccharine—an underrated gem from a criminally overlooked band.
Screenshot from Close Your Mouth (It’s Christmas), Project 3 Records (1968)
Donny Hathaway – “This Christmas”
Yes, you’ve heard it—but not nearly as often as you should. Hathaway’s soulful, velvety celebration of love and light deserves to be as ubiquitous as “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” yet somehow remains underrated among casual listeners.
The Kinks – “Father Christmas”
Punkish, gritty, and brilliantly sardonic, this track sees a department-store Santa getting mugged by kids who don’t want toys—they want money. It’s rebellious and weirdly heartfelt, a snapshot of the real world colliding with holiday fantasy.
Screenshot from Father Christmas, Arista Records (1977)
Judy Garland – “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (Original Version)
Before the song was softened and sweetened for radio, Garland’s performance in Meet Me in St. Louis was hauntingly somber. That original version remains a breathtaking emotional gut-punch, often forgotten beneath the polished covers.
Screenshot from Meet Me in St. Louis, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1944)
Sufjan Stevens – “Put The Lights On The Tree”
Indie icon Sufjan Stevens has released enough Christmas music to fill an Advent calendar, but this bright, joyous tune stands out. With banjo plucks, gentle vocals, and earnest cheer, it's a modern holiday miracle.
Sufjan Stevens playing banjo.jpg: Joe Lencioni derivative work: Antilived, Wikimedia Commons
John Prine – “Christmas In Prison”
Only John Prine could write a Christmas song that’s funny, sad, tender, and oddly hopeful all at once. It's a wry bittersweet ballad that showcases his trademark storytelling charm.
Yellowstone National Park, YPF/Matt Ludin, Wikimedia Commons
CeeLo Green – “Mary, Did You Know?”
CeeLo’s version turns the spiritual classic into a gospel-soul powerhouse. His vocal performance is rich and cinematic, yet somehow this version lives in the shadows of more famous recordings.
Screenshot from Mary, Did You Know?, RCA Records (2012)
Ella Fitzgerald – “The Secret Of Christmas”
Ella delivers pure vocal velvet on this underplayed gem. Instead of singing about gifts or snow, she reflects on the deeper meaning of the holiday season—love, kindness, and radical generosity.
William P. Gottlieb, Wikimedia Commons
Kanye West – “Christmas In Harlem”
A smooth, stylish hip-hop track with features from Teyana Taylor and CyHi Da Prynce, “Christmas In Harlem” is soulful, sweet, and packed with wintertime swagger. It deserved way more radio play than it ever got.
Low – “Just Like Christmas”
A beloved indie classic among music fans, Low’s lo-fi sleigh-bell-filled tune is warm yet bittersweet. The song gently captures the feeling of searching for childhood wonder in a grown-up world.
Screenshot from Just Like Christmas, Kranky (1999)
Emmylou Harris – “Light Of The Stable”
Harris’ crystalline voice soars above a gently gliding arrangement, creating a peaceful, reverent soundscape. This track feels like a quiet snowfall—simple, stunning, and serene.
Julian Casablancas – “I Wish It Was Christmas Today”
Borrowing a silly Saturday Night Live sketch song and turning it into a full-length indie-rock banger, Casablancas injects youthful energy and fuzzy guitars into the season.
Liliane Callegari from Sao Paulo, Wikimedia Commons
Stevie Wonder – “One Little Christmas Tree”
Hidden on his 1967 holiday album, this tender tune deserves more love. Stevie’s optimistic storytelling and irresistible warmth make it one of the sweetest Christmas songs you’ve (probably) never heard.
John Athayde, Wikimedia Commons
The Emotions – “What Do the Lonely Do At Christmas?”
A heartbreaking soul anthem for anyone who finds the season isolating. With lush harmonies and a slow-burning groove, it’s as cathartic as it is beautiful.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
Julian Lennon – “Silver Bells”
Julian Lennon offers a surprisingly dreamy, modern take on the old standard. His soft vocals and atmospheric production wrap the song in a gentle glow that feels like a quiet winter night.
Kate Bush – “December Will Be Magic Again”
Because of course Kate Bush would give us a Christmas song filled with whimsy, wonder, and a dash of surreal mystery. Her bright vocals and playful arrangement create pure holiday enchantment.
Screenshot from December Will Be Magic Again, EMI Records (1980)
The Sonics – “Don’t Believe In Christmas”
Garage-rock legends The Sonics unleash a raw, raucous anti-Christmas anthem that's somehow… still festive? It’s wild, weird, and perfect for anyone who likes their holiday music loud.
Umberto Rotundo from Catanzaro, Italy, Wikimedia Commons
Diana Ross – “Overjoyed (Christmas Version)”
Diana Ross’s holiday rendition of Stevie Wonder’s classic “Overjoyed” is lush, elegant, and deeply romantic. It’s the kind of song that could soundtrack a slow dance beside the tree.
Crisco 1492, Wikimedia Commons
Fountains Of Wayne – “The Man In The Santa Suit”
With witty lyrics and upbeat pop-rock charm, this track follows a guy reluctantly taking a seasonal Santa job. It’s funny, relatable, and unexpectedly tender—classic Fountains of Wayne storytelling.
Rob Kennedy, Wikimedia Commons
Otis Redding – “Merry Christmas Baby”
Redding’s soulful crackle transforms this bluesy Christmas song into something transcendent. His voice—raw, yearning, explosive—brings holiday longing to life like no one else can.
Your New Holiday Playlist Awaits
Whether you’re celebrating with family, flying solo, or trying to drown out your neighbor’s 24/7 loop of “Jingle Bell Rock,” these underrated Christmas songs bring fresh sparkle to the season. They’re warm, weird, wondrous, and so deserving of a spot in your rotation. So this year, add a little mystery to your mistletoe vibes—and discover a whole new world of holiday cheer hiding just beneath the mainstream.
Screenshot from Meet Me in St. Louis, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1944)
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