We’re only a few days out from the arrival of Worst Christmas Ever!, the career-spanning holiday compilation from Sufjan Stevens, but the stellar songwriter and musician is marking the unofficial start of the season by sharing a new track. Released today (Nov. 2), “On This Christmas, (It Only Gets Better)” serves as his first new Christmas-themed song in almost 15 years, and it delivers an especially timely message.
“Oh, will it get much worse, my friend?” he asks in the dreamily melancholy track. “You said, ‘No matter what it’s worth, my friend.’ You said, ‘Don’t put it past the Earth to get better in the end.”
“I love the idea of a Christmas apology,” Stevens shares. “A holiday characterized by the giving and receiving of gifts might be made even better by the giving and receiving of forgiveness. ‘I’m sorry’ is the ultimate ice-breaker in a moment of conflict, contention, and misunderstanding. Let’s try to be better this year: more loving, forgiving, welcoming, and reckoning. This song is a prayer—that we can all find a way to yield to the wisdom and understanding of forgiveness. I believe the world will find its way.”
Sufjan Stevens, Worst Christmas Ever!
ALBUM OUT NOVEMBER 6 VIA ASTHMATIC KITTY RECORDS
ALBUM TRACKS
1. “Silent Night”
2. “Put the Lights on the Tree”
3. “Holly Jolly Christmas”
4. “Christmas In the Room”
5. “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Christmas Infinity Voyage Version)”
6. “Sister Winter”
7. “Joy to the World”
8. “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)”
9. “Angels We Have Heard on High (Christmas Infinity Voyage Version)”
10. “Only at Christmas Time”
11. “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Christmas Unicorn Version)”
12. “That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!”
13. “Sleigh Ride”
14. “Justice Delivers its Gift”
15. “Auld Lang Syne”
16. “Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages)”
Out this Friday, Worst Christmas Ever!, is comprised of 15 holiday-centric tracks that include both originals and covers, featuring an impressive list of contributions from creative collaborators including The National’s Aaron and Bryce Dessner, Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry, Cat Martino, James McAlister, Rosie Thomas, and many more.
Watch the official music video for “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)” below, made up of six thousand hand-painted images by Stevens, Michael O’Neal, Cubby Graham, and Hannah Cohen.
