Joni Mitchell – “River” – (1971)

From the beginning piano notes that are reminiscent of “Jingle Bells” to the first line of the song that talks about Christmas and cutting Christmas trees. I don’t think Joni Mitchell set out to write a Christmas song – but that’s more or less what this is. She’d call it a folk song about a relationship falling apart during winter. This is one of her most famous songs and one of her most covered. The song is simple and nice. A swell Christmas tune, although not your standard fare.