No Christmas in Kentucky lyrics

Christmas shoppers shopping on a neon city street,

another Christmas dollar for another Christmas treat.

There’s satin on the pretty dolls that make the children glow,

while a boy is walking ragged in the cold Kentucky snow.

No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky.

There’s no holly on a West Virginia door.

For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry,

and the jingle bells don’t jingle when you’re poor.

There’s lots of toys for children when the Christmas time is near,

but the present for the miners is a stocking full of fear.

In the dark hills of Kentucky there’s one gift that may be found:

the coal dust of forgotten days that’s lying on the ground.

No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky.

There’s no holly on a West Virginia door.

For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry,

and the jingle bells don’t jingle when you’re poor.

Let’s drink a toast to Congress and a toast to Santa Claus,

and a toast to all the speeches that bring the loud applause.

There’s not enough to give, no, there’s just not enough to share,

so, drown the sounds of sorrow with a hearty Christmas cheer.

No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky.

There’s no holly on a West Virginia door.

For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry,

and the jingle bells don’t jingle when you’re poor.

Have a merry, merry Christmas and a happy New Year’s Day,

for now’s a time of plenty and plenty’s here to stay.

But if you knew what Christmas was, I think that you would find

Christ is spending Christmas in the cold Kentucky mines.

No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky.

There’s no holly on a West Virginia door.

For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry,

and the jingle bells don’t jingle when you’re poor.

• Artist:Phil Ochs