Evan Craft - All I Want This Christmas Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1:
It’s not the same opening presents without you here
And the pain seems to hurt worse this time of year
And we still put up your stocking in the same place
Cause I can’t get through the cold any other way
Chorus:
And I know you’re not gone, you have just gone ahead
But on this side of heaven I won’t understand
It's not soon enough till I see you once again, oh
Might be selfish, but it’s honest
Hurts so bad
because it’s true
Oh, all I want this Christmas is You
Verse 2:
Oh I bet you’re singing carols on streets of gold
Are the lights brighter than any I’ve ever known?
And they say, to just give it time and these wounds will heal
But today, there’s a hole in
my heart only you can fill
Verse 3
I’ll be fine
Knowing you’re there in His presence
What’s it like
To finally be home for Christmas oh
Chorus
And I know you’re not gone, you have just gone ahead
But on this side of heaven I won’t understand
It's notsoon enough till I see you once again oh
Might be selfish, but it’s honest
Hurts so bad because it’s true
Oh all I want this Christmas is You
I’d give anything this Christmas
Oh all I want this Christmas is You
Video
Evan Craft - All I Want This Christmas (Official Live Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Evan Craft’s "All I Want This Christmas," released as an official live video on December 9, 2022, offers a profoundly honest and spiritually resonant exploration of grief during the holiday season. The song immediately plunges into the personal ache of a Christmas irrevocably changed by the absence of a loved one, a narrative that unfolds with poignant clarity. It’s a testament to the enduring human experience of loss, particularly when magnified by the festive joy surrounding it, yet it's firmly anchored in an unshakeable Christian perspective. The meaning behind the song is unequivocally rooted in the painful reality of losing someone dear, translating the universal longing for reunion into a deeply personal, prayerful plea.
The song’s lyrical journey begins by painting a vivid picture of a Christmas fundamentally altered: "It’s not the same opening presents without you here / And the pain seems to hurt worse this time of year." This opening acknowledges the specific emotional burden that holidays can bring to those in mourning, a time when traditions highlight the absence rather than comfort. The image of still putting up the loved one's stocking speaks volumes about the persistence of love and the struggle to cope with the "cold" of their absence. This echoes the sentiment in Psalm 34:18, where God is described as being near to the brokenhearted, providing a divine solace even when human comfort feels distant or insufficient. The vulnerability expressed here gives voice to countless individuals who navigate their own altered celebrations, validating their sorrow.
As the chorus arrives, the song transitions from lament to a powerful declaration of faith and enduring hope. "And I know you’re not gone, you have just gone ahead / But on this side of heaven I won’t understand / It's not soon enough till I see you once again." This is a quintessential Christian understanding of death, not as an end, but as a temporary separation, a transition to glory. It beautifully articulates the truth found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, which comforts us that believers who have died are merely sleeping and will be brought with Jesus. Yet, Craft masterfully juxtaposes this certainty with the raw human struggle to comprehend God's timing and purpose, affirming that while faith provides assurance, our earthly understanding is limited. The yearning for reunion ("It's not soon enough till I see you once again") directly reflects the promise of Revelation 21:4, where God will wipe away every tear and death will be no more, fueling a deep desire for the restoration of relationship. The subsequent lines, "Might be selfish, but it’s honest / Hurts so bad because it’s true / Oh, all I want this Christmas is You," bravely confronts the perceived "selfishness" of grief, affirming that the intense desire for a loved one is not a flaw, but an honest expression of profound love, reminding us that true treasure lies in relationships, as Christ taught in Matthew 6:21.
Verse two further elaborates on this celestial hope, imagining the loved one now in heaven: "Oh I bet you’re singing carols on streets of gold / Are the lights brighter than any I’ve ever known?" These vivid images draw directly from biblical depictions of heaven, particularly Revelation 21:21 with its "streets of gold" and Revelation 21:23, which describes the city needing no sun or moon because "the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp." This paints a picture of glorious celebration, a comfort to the grieving heart. The common adage "they say, to just give it time and these wounds will heal" is met with the profound truth of personal loss: "But today, there’s a hole in my heart only you can fill." This line powerfully asserts that while time may dull the sharp edges of pain, some voids are so unique and personal that they remain, a testament to the irreplaceable nature of each human connection until ultimate reunion in Christ.
The final verse, "I’ll be fine / Knowing you’re there in His presence / What’s it like / To finally be home for Christmas oh," marks a significant shift towards acceptance and peaceful anticipation. The solace found in knowing the loved one is "in His presence" aligns perfectly with Psalm 16:11, which speaks of fullness of joy in God's presence. Framing heaven as "home for Christmas" transcends earthly celebrations, transforming the idea of home into its ultimate spiritual destination, a concept echoed in Hebrews 11:16 where believers long for a heavenly country. Evan Craft's "All I Want This Christmas" is more than just a song of remembrance; it is a profound theological meditation on grief, faith, and the promise of eternity. It offers immense comfort by validating the pain of loss while steadfastly pointing towards the hope of resurrection and reunion that is central to the Christian faith. It encourages individuals to embrace their sorrow honestly, yet to hold fast to the divine assurance that our separations are temporary, and our ultimate homecoming awaits in Christ.