The Chimney Song

Album: Twisted Christmas (1987)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this truly twisted Christmas song, Santa doesn't come because he gets stuck in the chimney. Even worse, he can't get out, and after a while, the family detects a foul odor.

    Bob Rivers was a disc jockey at WAAF in Worcester, Massachusetts, when he started doing parody songs for his show. After recording "Twelve Pains Of Christmas" in 1986, Atlantic Records commissioned a full album, which became Twisted Christmas. The album was a huge hit, selling over 500,000 copies.
  • Rivers wrote this song with his collaborators Dennis Amero and Brian Silva, with Amero the biggest contributor to "The Chimney Song." Rivers explained in a Songfacts interview: "He had this offbeat idea: What if Santa Claus got stuck in the chimney and died there? And what if there's a little girl going, 'Something's wrong with our chimney.'"
  • The little girl who did the vocal on this song is the daughter of Joanne List, who was one of the singers Rivers used on his parodies.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.