Download Instrumental   Not long ago, on a chilly December evening, I walked into a honky-tonk bar (my favorite kind of bar – all the real people dwell there) and heard the band do this “Christmas” song.  I had never heard it before (been under a rock for the last 40 years), but I liked it.  It’s a “cry in your beer” kind of tune, but there’s certainly a holiday theme there so we’ll include the backup music on our Christmas List.

“Pretty Paper” was written by Willie Nelson back in 1963 when he was a successful song writer but relatively unknown.  He turned the song over to Roy Orbison, who had a semi-hit with it, but I have to say his delivery was dreadful.  In 1979, Nelson re-recorded it himself for his Christmas album of the same name.  The song is about someone who encounters a homeless person on the street during the holidays, but decides he’s much too busy to give the poor chap even a second glance (nice).

Okay, it’s not the happiest of holiday music, but I guarantee your honky-tonk crowd will love it.  And, it’s another opportunity to play piano like Floyd Cramer – never pass that up.