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Like A Gift From God or Whatever

by Chris Farren

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1.
I wish it was Christmas every day, I wish it was Christmas every day.
2.
I hope I get a new guitar for Christmas, I've asked for one almost every year. Because the frets are all worn out on the one I'm playing now, I hope I get a new guitar for Christmas. I hope I get a new guitar for Christmas, this one has gone as far as it can go. I wrote 11 decent songs, played a thousand empty shows, I hope I get a new guitar for Christmas. The strings keep breaking off, it never stays in tune, my fingers bleed when I try to play a simple song for you. I lost my temper trying to fix the bridge myself, spend $150 but it was no help. Oh yes it's true, I could use... A new guitar for Christmas, a new guitar from you. I'll write a million love songs and play anything you want, I just need a new guitar for Christmas. I'll write a million love songs and play anything you want, I just need a new guitar for Christmas, I hope I get a new guitar for Christmas, I hope I get a new guitar for Christmas.
3.
I'm not ready for Christmas, I'm not ready for the freezing cold, I'm not ready for the questions they're going to ask me back home. I'm not ready for the questions that my family's gonna ask of me. "What happened to that pretty girl? She was so sweet." Well don't you think I know that you were the perfect sound to comfort me? Now all I have are silent nights alone. I'm not ready for Christmas, I'm not ready for the falling snow, not ready to move on and find somebody new. I'm not ready to explain why I'm returning this diamond ring, it fit my finger perfectly, I know you measured it extensively. Well don't you think I know that you were the perfect sound to comfort me? Now all I have are silent nights alone. Now all I have are silent nights alone. Maybe in another life we'd be walking down that aisle, but under white string lights you'll go left and I'll go right, and wish each other another silent night. Well don't you think I know that you were the perfect sound to comfort me? Now all I have are silent nights alone. Well don't you think I know that you were the perfect sound to comfort me? Now all I have are silent nights alone. Now all I have are silent nights alone. I'm not ready for Christmas.
4.
I was a snowman, you were the sun. You were mean and hot, I was brainless and young. I was a reindeer, you were a wolf howling after me and you wanted blood. I was too high to notice in August cuz the blood rushed to my brain, but December was heartless and soulless as I watched you slip away. I'd wait all year long (all year long) for you to return (for you to return) to me.
5.
Decorate my life with silver bells and Christmas lights, leave me in the cold to wait under that mistletoe. I'll stay here. Waiting for you, what else would I do in the snow? I decorate my house with red and gold and white felt cloth, hammered to the wall, drunk from all the wine you bought before you left and said that "it's over". Laid to rest a love that hadn't died yet. I'll stay here. Waiting for you, what else would I do? In the snow, in the cold because right now I cannot let go. Let it fall, let it break, there's only so much you could take.
6.
On the floor by the fireplace, in the flames I think I saw your face. Yellow embers flicker out, wood hissing and popping loud while I try to imagine what you might be doing now. Every Christmas Eve, under the tree I hope you think of me. Cuz like a gift from God or whatever, you stay in my dreams. By the side of a frozen lake, the sound of laughing and awkward skates. Red and gold, just let it snow and breath a little slower. Check your phone if you feel alone and I'll be coming over. Every Christmas Eve, under the tree I hope you think of me. Cuz like a gift from God or whatever, you stay in my dreams. Carry on just how you want, it's a wonderful life. Your silver heart will outshine mine every single time. Every Christmas Eve, under the tree I hope you think of me. Cuz like a gift from God or whatever, you stay in my dreams. Cuz like a gift from God or whatever, you stay in my dreams. You stay in my dreams.
7.
If all our days are numbered then why are we still counting them? Not gonna live my life just worrying about the bitter end. I laid out on the couch as you tore through every gift I wrapped, it was a cemetery of cardboard boxes and 15 seconds flat. Another Christmas and you're still mine, another Christmas for another year. Another Christmas and we're still alive. Merry Christmas my dear. The fall had left me before I had the chance to take it in, and then winter came and strangled everything surrounding it. I can't believe how steadily the calendar pages flip, it feels like yesterday we shared our very first December 25th. Another Christmas and you're still mine, another Christmas for another year. Another Christmas and we're still alive. Merry Christmas my dear, Merry Christmas my dear. But if you change the way you feel for me, if frostbite takes your love away. I'll be the sun, all mean and hot and dying every day if winter takes your love away. Another Christmas and you're still mine, another Christmas for another year. Another Christmas and we're still alive. Merry Christmas my dear, Merry Christmas my dear, Merry Christmas my dear.
8.
I slipped away on Christmas day, now my soul is traveling back from where it came. So pick my body up from my bed, wrap it up in paper. You know I have gone to meet the undertaker. I slipped away on Christmas day, saw the light at the end of the hallway, pretended to pray. Maybe they'll all know my name. Will angels sing? Will trumpets play? Will I be given my younger face? I asked the undertaker. But he didn't answer, he just led the way. I could taste dirt in my mouth and felt the blood leave my veins. yad samtsirhc no yawa deppils I, walked towards the pearly gates but he pulled me away. I said "I never did any harm, why is this elevator heading down?" He kept facing forward and said with a laugh "I'm the undertaker."
9.
10.
All the other years before this were merely just practice, this one is gonna be my year. And all the new friends that came in my life and all the old ones that stuck by my side, I promise I'm not gonna be the wreck I was before. It's gonna be a better year, I'm gonna have a better year. I'm gonna do everything I've always been so terrified to do. It's gonna be a better year, I'm gonna have a better year. It's gonna be a happier new year. New year. Pour the champagne from the bottle, drink the whole thing if you wanna, forget everything you know and start again. And when midnight comes and I kiss her mouth I'm gonna lay every piece of armor down. Darling this year I'm going to make it real. It's gonna be a better year, I'm gonna have a better year. I'm gonna do everything I've always been so terrified to do. It's gonna be a better year, I'm gonna have a better year. It's gonna be a happier new year. New year. Happy New Year everyone. Looks like we made it through the worst of it. It's gonna be a better year, I'm gonna have a better year. I'm gonna do everything I've always been so terrified to do. It's gonna be a better year, I'm gonna have a better year. It's gonna be a happier new year. New year.
11.
12.
The tree is by the street now and the lights are back in the attic, all the ornaments and candy canes in cardboard boxes. I never feel quite ready for the scenery to change again, I was just getting used to hearing those sleigh bells chiming. I wish it was Christmas every day, I wish it was Christmas every day. I still wake up every morning with those songs stuck in my head. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Silver Bells". So I'm counting down the days, watching calendar pages flip, til the day we all can gather 'round that Christmas tree. I wish it was Christmas every day, I wish it was Christmas every day. I wish that it was Christmas every day.

about

"Like a Gift From God or Whatever" is an all-original Christmas album by Chris Farren (Fake Problems, Antarctigo Vespucci) and friends, including guest vocal appearances by Mae Whitman (Arrested Development, Parenthood), Laura Stevenson, Jenny Owen Youngs, Allison Weiss, Sean Bonnette (Andrew Jackson Jihad), Jeff Rosenstock (Bomb The Music Industry, Antarctigo Vespucci), Anika Pyle (Chumped) and more. This album was recorded between July-November 2014 in makeshift home studios and hotel rooms across America.

For every purchase in December 2016, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Amputee Coalition. The Amputee Coalition: Reaching out to and empowering people affected by limb loss to achieve their full potential through education, support and advocacy, and to promote limb loss prevention. More information at Amputee-Coalition.org

credits

released December 2, 2014

All songs written by Chris Farren (DEAR FRIEND & PUNK CELEBRITY ASCAP)

Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Chris Farren, mostly at home in Naples, FL - but also in a million different places across the country.

Additional tracking by Miles Heizer, Jeff Rosenstock and Peter Naddeo.

Mastered by Bill Henderson at Azimuth Mastering.

Personel in Alphabetical Order:
Matt Agrella - Trumpet, Trombone (Track 9)
Sean Bonnette - Vocals (Track 4 & 12)
Cassandra Dennis - Claps (Track 2, 6, 7 & 10)
Chris Farren - Vocals, Guitars, Synth, Bass, Percussion
Lee Ellis - Vocals (Track 6, 10 & 12) Mini-Organ (Track 10 & 11)
Roger Harvey - Vocals (Track 2)
Shelby Jacobson - Voice (Track 2, 4 & 11)
Casey Lee - Guitar (Track 2-3, 5-10, 12) Trumpet (Track 10)
Sam Pape - Vocals (Track 6, 10 & 12)
Anika Pyle - Vocals (Track 1 & 4)
Jeff Rosenstock - Vocals (Track 7 & 12) Saxophone (Track 10) Wurlitzer (Track 3)
Andrew Koji Shiraki - Vocals (Track 6 & 7)
Laura Stevenson - Vocals (Track 5)
Sean Stevenson - Drums (Track 2-3, 5-10) Piano (Track 1, 2 & 6)
Allison Weiss - Vocals (Track 12)
Mae Whitman - Vocals (Track 3)
Jenny Owen Youngs - Vocals (Track 6)

Cover design by Jeff Rosenstock

THANKS: All of the above mentioned wonderful people who contributed their talent to this record, Melissa "Purvis" Stevenson, Kaysie Lee, Peggy Farren, Christine Mackie, Tyler Dunning, The Ellis Family, Tim Ruggeri, Tim Meehan, Hard Girls, John DeDomenici, Kevin Higuchi, Mike Campbell, Benny Horowitz, Dan Ozzi, Jonah Bayer, Tito Belis, Drew Johnson, Tiffiny Kalina, Anthony Barlow, Mark McCabe.

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Chris Farren Los Angeles, California

INDIE POP ON POLYVINYL RECORDS

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