Christmas trees are mysteriously popping up. Stockings are hanging on store shelves and clothing stores are displaying their winter clothes. Soon, you won’t be able to turn on your car radio without hearing a Christmas song.
But the holidays shouldn’t be rushed. After all, they only come once a year, and you haven’t even celebrated Thanksgiving yet. Christmas lasts for a season, but Thanksgiving lasts for a day, so take some time to wallow in the calm before the Christmas snowstorm by enjoying these Thanksgiving songs.
“Over the River and Through the Wood” — You may think of this song as a cute children’s ditty — and you’d be right — but you probably don’t think of it as a holiday song. The lyrics are from a poem called “A Boy’s Thanksgiving Day” about a little boy’s visit to his grandmother’s house on Thanksgiving. Even if you don’t have to go over a river and through the woods to get to your relatives’ houses, it’s still a fun song to sing along to.
“Miracle” by Matisyahu — This year, Thanksgiving Day is also the first night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. This catchy and upbeat song celebrates the joy and meaning of the holiday, and it’s perfect to bob your head to while you’re eating latkes, mashed sweet potatoes or both.
“Thank the Lord for the Night Time” by Neil Diamond — Though we set aside only one day a year to be thankful, we need to remember that we can be thankful every day. Diamond’s song reminds us to be thankful for the times of rest we have each day, though, ironically, you won’t be able to keep still when you hear it.
“Jingle Bells” — Yes, you read that right. Though we sing this song during Christmas, it was first performed at a Thanksgiving concert at a church. You may feel you’ve had enough of “Jingle Bells” to last you a lifetime, but with so many different versions of it — from mellow to swing to rock ’n’ roll — you’ll sure to find a favorite. Besides, you know that deep inside, you love singing along.
“Thankful” by Josh Groban — This sweet melody reminds us to be thankful for our own joy and also calls us to help others in the world. Groban’s exquisite baritone and the song’s emotional and thoughtful lyrics will help you remember why you’re thankful, and its soft melody makes it especially appropriate to listen to during your turkey-induced food coma.
“You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” by Blood, Sweat and Tears — Sometimes, we tend to take the people we love for granted and need to take time to thank them for being in our lives. This song’s celebratory mood celebrates the little miracle of finding people to love. Plus, the song has fantastic brass instrumentals that make you want to run around the house and pretend you’re a trumpet master.
“Thanksgiving Prayer” by Johnny Cash — Even if you’ve never heard a Johnny Cash song, his easy, deep voice makes any song instantly familiar and likable. Cash speak-sings his way through this quiet song about thanking God for that special someone. It’s evocative of those reflective moments around the dinner table with family and friends.
“Thanksgiving Theme” and “Great Pumpkin Waltz” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio — We celebrate Christmas with Charlie Brown and the rest of the “Peanuts” gang, so why not celebrate Thanksgiving with them as well? These bright and classic piano pieces perfectly set the right Thanksgiving mood.
“Thank You for Being a Friend” by Andrew Gold — Best known as “The Golden Girls” theme, this song’s catchy tune is sure to get stuck in your head all day. It’s the perfect song for you and your friends to unironically karaoke to together.
