Story Behind The Song
The first two lines of the song still hit me the hardest:
"First snowflakes fall / To the ground, / Hard to feel the thrill / Without you around."
They really say it all. That moment when the snow begins to fall, and you suddenly feel the absence of the people who used to share it with you. It's not just about grief, it's about memory, connection, and holding space for those who are still with us, too.
Over the years, I kept rewriting the song, and when Mom passed, I finally found the heart to finish it. I even performed a version of it with different lyrics, called "Popcorn Smiles", at her funeral. That moment helped bring everything full circle.
I originally started writing this with a Gordon Lightfoot-style picking in mind but eventually found a great musical collaborator on Fiverr who helped shape the melody into something that really spoke to what I was feeling.
Christmas Cheer is for anyone who finds joy and sorrow sitting side-by-side during the holidays. It's a song about remembering, about snowflakes and stories, about missing someone and still hearing their laughter in the silence.
Song Description
The first two lines of the song still hit me the hardest:
"First snowflakes fall / To the ground, / Hard to feel the thrill / Without you around."
They really say it all. That moment when the snow begins to fall, and you suddenly feel the absence of the people who used to share it with you. It's not just about grief, it's about memory, connection, and holding space for those who are still with us, too.
Over the years, I kept rewriting the song, and when Mom passed, I finally found the heart to finish it. I even performed a version of it with different lyrics, called "Popcorn Smiles", at her funeral. That moment helped bring everything full circle.
I originally started writing this with a Gordon Lightfoot-style picking in mind but eventually found a great musical collaborator on Fiverr who helped shape the melody into something that really spoke to what I was feeling.
Christmas Cheer is for anyone who finds joy and sorrow sitting side-by-side during the holidays. It's a song about remembering, about snowflakes and stories, about missing someone and still hearing their laughter in the silence.
| Song Length |
3:44 |
Genre |
Pop - Easy Listening, Pop - Easy Listening |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Peaceful |
Subject |
Loneliness, General |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
CHRISTMAS CHEER © [2023] Joseph Vetro (SOCAN)
All rights reserved. Music and Lyrics by Joe (Jay) Vetro
Verse 1
First snowflakes fall
To the ground,
Hard to feel the thrill
Without you around.
Children sing,
Bells, they ring--
Takes me back
To cherished memories.
Verse 2
Presents wrapped beneath the tree,
Oh, what a gift to have you back with me.
Tree stands tall, shines so bright,
But it can't chase away this lonely night.
Chorus
Christmas cheer, Christmas cheer--
Hard to find now you're not here.
Missing you, I'm missing you,
Got these missing-you Christmas blues.
Verse 3
Set your place at the table still,
Beside the fire, where time stands still.
Your laughter lives in the silent snow,
Oh I won't let this season let you go.
Bridge
I'll sing my song and keep the faith
Hoping we meet again someday
Hope that will meet again someday
Silent night Oh, filled with blues
My heart can't refuse missing you
I reminisce how it warms my soul
Winds call you in this holiday glow
The fire burns but I'm still cold
Wish I had you here to hold
Chorus
Christmas cheer, Christmas cheer--
Hard to find now you're not here.
Missing you, I'm missing you,
Got these missing-you Christmas blues.