As someone who hates Christmas music with a passion, I can totally sympathize with Robert Earl Keen's mother when she told him she hated his Christmas hit.
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If you've ever heard "Merry Christmas From The Family," you'll probably understand where Rober Earl Keen's mother is coming from. It's in the same thread as "Fairytale Of New York," by The Pogues. Not everyone wants to sing about sleighbells and happy Christmas cheer. For many out there, it is a time of alcoholism, and forced time with a less than loved family.
The 1994 album features many of Robert Earl Keen's relatives, including the ones in the Christmas hit. "Gringo Honeymoon" became a hit on its release in 1994 for shedding some light on real blue-collar life. "Merry Christmas From The Family" is the perfect snapshot of the Southern Christmas experience. But, his mother didn't like him hanging out their dirty laundry.
A Christmas Hit From Robert Earl That Hit A Bit Too Close To Home
The lyrics of the down-and-dirty Christmas song are familiar situations to many. It's hard to relate to Christmas cheer and fancy little elves for some of us. So, it's no surprise that Robert Earl Keen's "Merry Christmas From The Family" did so well.
"Of course, he brought his new wife Kay
Who talks all about AA
Chain smoking while the stereo plays
'Noel, Noel, The First Noel'"
The dry reality of a family get-together removed from the big house and shining tree of the American dream is refreshing. It rings much more true than the Hallmark rubbish most of us see. However, his mother wasn't very pleased about the truth he was telling.
"She called my Uncle Joe, who's also made a cameo appearance in one of my songs, and said, 'Uncle Joe, Robert has written the most horrible song that you've ever heard," he told Texas Monthly. His mother was not happy with the way Robert Earl was portraying their family festivities in his Christmas hit.
But, we all need a little reality here and there. Without singers like Keen, we would feel a lot more alone as we sip cheap egg nog, and gather around a cold tree.
