Merry Christmas Eve from the cross roads

My favorite Christmas song is the Pogues' "Fairytale of New York," which begins, "It was Christmas eve, babe, in the drunk tank ... " Later, Shane McGowan sings, "I could have been someone," and Kirsty MacColl, in pretty much my favorite comeback ever, sings, "Well, so could anyone."

And I like the bit in "Hell Hound on My Trail" when Robert Johnson sings,

If today was Christmas Eve
If today was Christmas Eve
and tomorrow was Christmas Day

If today was Christmas Eve
and tomorrow was Christmas Day
Aw, wouldn't we have a time, baby?

But just to show you I can string some lights in the darkness, I love to hear Otis Redding sing "Merry Christmas, Baby." Yeah, love to hear him sing, "I feel mighty fine, y'all. I got music on my radio." And I love to hear Emmylou Harris sing "Light of the Stable." I love John Fahey's "Christmas Guitar" and Bruce Cockburn's "Christmas." There's a great Christmas record by the Chieftains and one by the Clancy Brothers, and I've got a record called "Acoustic Christmas" with Willie Nile singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" like he's a 13-year-old street punk in a choir robe -- it's hilarious, really. ... And I'm still coming to terms, you know, with Dylan's "Christmas in the Heart," but sure, why not. Sing it, Bob. And Merry Christmas Eve, y'all.