“So, I wrote you a song, hope that you sing along / And it goes, ‘Merry Christmas, kiss my ass!’” Clearly, someone – rather a specific girl – is firmly planted on the ‘shit-list’ of pop-punk band, All Time Low. The phrase “kiss my ass” has a negative connotation, something singer Alex Gaskarth and company seek to highlight on “Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass.” This striking, non-traditional Christmas song appears as the penultimate cut on the deluxe edition of the band’s 2011, Dirty Work. What exactly is the Baltimore pop-punk band atoning for? Simply put, a broken heart.
Throughout “Merry Christmas, Kiss my Ass,” Alex Gaskarth never holds back when it comes to the matters of his heart. “Now, last year’s summer romance / Is this year’s winter blues,” he sings on the first verse, later adding, “I treated you so nicely / … But you left me empty handed.” Interestingly, “Winter’s blues” is only one instance of the holiday and Christmas connection with heartbreak. On the second verse, Gaskarth feels totally scorned, so much so that he sings, “I tear down decorations / They remind me of your smile / I hate that mistletoe / It makes me think of our first kiss.” Amazingly, such pained lyrics are painted by energetic vocals over a major key backdrop. Go figure!
There’s more anger dished out by All Time Low. “So sick of calling / You won’t telephone me / No, fuck you, girl, I’m going out,” Gaskarth later sings, seeking to move on from the fact that the “Love hit a wall.” All the while, there are references to Christmas, which also seems to be ruined by her (“I gave you my heart / You ripped it apart / Like the wrapping paper trash”). Even given the horrid state of the Christmas thanks to her, the singer gets the last laugh. Atonement? Methinks.
You can learn more about All Time Low here:
About The Curator - Brent Faulkner
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype (https://themusicalhype.com). When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event.
