Lyrics
Christmas shoppers shopping on a neon city street
Depicts the scene of people shopping in a bright, lively urban area during Christmas time.
Another Christmas dollar for another Christmas treat
Money spent for Christmas festivities or gifts.
There's satin on the pretty dolls that make the children glow
Reference to expensive, attractive toys that bring joy to kids.
While a boy walking ragged in the cold Kentucky snow
Contrasts the affluence seen elsewhere with a poor boy walking in cold weather in Kentucky.
No, they don't have Christmas in Kentucky
Asserts the absence or deprivation of the typical Christmas experience in Kentucky.
There's no holly on a West Virginia door
Another mention emphasizing the absence of traditional Christmas symbols in certain places like West Virginia.
For the trees don't twinkle when you're hungry
Suggests that festive elements like twinkling trees are missing due to poverty and hunger.
And the Jingle Bells don't jingle when you're poor
Highlights the inability to enjoy holiday joy when facing financial hardship.
There's lots of toys for children when then Christmas time is near
Contrasts the abundance of toys for children with the lacking provisions for miners.
But the present for the miners is a stocking full of beer
Indicates that miners' 'gift' during Christmas is only a stocking filled with beer, symbolizing neglect or lack of better treatment.
In the dark hills of Kentucky there's one gift that may be found
Portrays the remnants of the coal mining past as a grim gift in the hills of Kentucky.
The coal dust of forgotten days that's lying on the ground
Symbolizes the remnants of the coal mining industry's effects, possibly neglect or poverty.
No, they don't have Christmas in Kentucky
Reiterates the absence of a traditional Christmas experience in Kentucky.
There's no holly on a West Virginia door
Repeats the absence of holly, reemphasizing the lack of festive spirit.
For the trees don't twinkle when you're hungry
Reiterates that festive symbols like twinkling trees are absent due to hunger and poverty.
And the Jingle Bells don't jingle when you're poor
Reemphasizes the inability to experience holiday joy when facing financial difficulties.
Let's drink a toast to Congress and a toast to Santa Claus
Ironically toasting Congress and Santa Claus for speeches and festivities, possibly hinting at superficial celebrations.
and a toast to all the speeches that bring the loud applause
Comments on the lack of resources or generosity to share during the holidays.
There's not enough to give, no, there's not enough to share
Suggests drowning out sorrow with forced or excessive cheer during Christmas due to insufficient resources.
So let's drown the sounds of sorrow with a hearty Christmas cheer
Repeats the absence of a traditional Christmas experience in Kentucky due to poverty.
No, they don't have Christmas in Kentucky
Reiterates the absence of holly, emphasizing the lack of traditional Christmas symbols.
There's no holly on a West Virginia door
Emphasizes the absence of twinkling trees due to hunger and poverty.
For the trees don't twinkle when you're hungry
Reemphasizes the inability to experience holiday joy when facing financial difficulties.
And the Jingle Bells don't jingle when you're poor
Reiterates the absence of festive joy due to poverty and financial constraints.
Have a merry, merry Christmas and a happy new year's day
Wishing others a happy holiday despite the underlying issues faced by some.
For now's a time of plenty, and plenty's here to stay
Sarcastically commenting on the apparent abundance during the holiday season.
But if you knew what Christmas was, I think that you would find
Suggests that true Christmas spirit is found amidst hardship, possibly referencing the Christ-like figure among miners.
That Christ is spending Christmas in the cold Kentucky mine
Implies that the true spirit of Christmas is experienced by those enduring hardship, like the miners in Kentucky.
No, they don't have Christmas in Kentucky
Reiterates the absence of a traditional Christmas experience in Kentucky due to poverty.
There's no holly on a West Virginia door
Reiterates the absence of holly, emphasizing the lack of traditional Christmas symbols.
For the trees don't twinkle when you're hungry
Emphasizes the absence of twinkling trees due to hunger and poverty.
And the Jingle Bells don't jingle when you're poor
Reemphasizes the inability to experience holiday joy when facing financial difficulties.
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