Single – Christmas 1984

A Christmas CD single in cardboard slipcase released only at a Looking Out Foundation event in 2012. It’s been reported the song was written by Tim Hanseroth. Although in an interview with Chris Willman from Variety, Brandi Carlile discusses writing it.

The Looking Out Foundation is the Brandi Carlile band’s foundation set up in 2008. The fundraising comes through ticket sales of their concerts, and special releases and initiatives.

In an interview with Chris Willman from Variety ahead of the 75th birthday celebrations for for Joni Mitchell, Brandi Carlile discussed the song…

“River” was a song you covered a lot over the years before you ever did “A Case of You.” It’s funny how that song was a semi-obscure deep album track but at some point became everyone’s go-to dark holiday perennial.

It’s interesting because it influenced me to write a holiday perennial from the perspective of the fact that Christmas is not a joyful time for everyone. That season and that holiday brings a lot of people a lot of pain, and I think that we look to those kind of heartbreak songs during that time because it’s really important to represent, or to be represented, if that holiday brings back hard memories, or if you have lost someone that you think about in a concentrated way during that time. So “River” was the first time I gained perspective on how other people might look at that season.

Which was the Christmas song you were inspired to write by “River”?

A couple of ‘em, actually: “Christmas 1984” and “The Heartache Can Wait.” “Christmas 1984” is about materialism and being poor around Christmas time. And “The Heartache Can Wait” is about knowing that something is going to end, whether it’s a life or a marriage or some kind of relationship, and knowing that you have to wait — believing that you should wait — until the end of the season, because the season is supposed to be joyful.

There are plenty of YouTube videos of the band singing this live – here’s.. one.

In 2015 an artist called The Flutter and Wow released a cover of the song.

Lyrics: When we were young

Oh, when we were young
We put popcorn on a string
and hung it on the sill
Carolers would sing
as the night grew still

And we were poor
Back in 1984
There were candles on the fireplace
and tinsel round the wreath
And a foot of snow
on top of the streets

Oooooooooo Oooooooooo
Oooooooooo Oooooooooo
Oooooooooo Oooooooooo

And when I’d grown
Like we all must do
Found myself a sturdy soul
To see me through
That was the fall of ’92
I was strong
And from dusk to dawn
I worked two jobs
just to keep the lights on
I saved up for months
just to buy a chain
And I gave it to one on Christmas Day

Oooooooooo Oooooooooo

And I found myself alone
in the winter cold
And my life is filled with things
I do not need
And the only thing I want
before i’m old
Won’t fit under my Christmas tree

Are we lost to our younger days
No longer are we able to find that place
Strangers to the kids
we used to know
And I don’t decorate my house no more

Oooooooooo Oooooooooo
Oooooooooo Oooooooooo
Oooooooooo Oooooooooo

And the only thing
I want before I leave
Won’t fit under my Christmas tree
And the only thing
I want before I leave
Won’t fit under my Christmas tree
Won’t fit under my Christmas tree