Christmas in Michigan

I have a certain ambivalence about Christmas music. On the one hand, I like a bit of schmalz as much as the next guy. On the other hand, do we really need to listen to Mariah Carey from the day after Halloween until shortly before the new year?!

Having said that, I was playing around at the piano the other day, and out popped an idea just begging to be a Christmas song. At first, I was thinking it would be a miss-you-at-Christmas song, a la “Blue Christmas.” But then I thought of how beautiful Michigan is in the winter and what a lovely place it is for family to gather on the holidays. So I wrote an ode to our fair state from the perspective of someone hoping to bring far-flung loved ones back for Christmas.

1. Arizona sounds great
on a winter day,
but I’d miss all the
magic of a snowflake.

Warm and sunny every day
has its charms, I guess,
but I still love the way
the seasons change.

2. As the fire of autumn leaves
begins to freeze
and the sun shines so bright
upon the city’s streets;

Oh, the air may be brisk–
I don’t mind a bit
when I think of the warm home
waiting for me.

Don’t you miss it
in the Mitten?
You know your home
will always be here.

Don’t you miss it
in the Mitten?
Come back for
Christmas in Michigan.