"He's makin' a list
'checkin' it twice
he's gonna find out
who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is comin' to town..."

I love Santa!  Everybody loves Santa!  What's not to love?  Well, if you study the stories and songs about the jolly old elf, you may notice that though "ladies love outlaws," Santa may just return their dark deeds and outlaw attitude with lumps of coal.  You see, the only way to salvage Santa's record when it comes to love is to call it "tough love." 

Santa only brings good gifts to those who are good enough.  Johnny Cash?  Waylon Jennings?  Hank Williams?  Hank Williams Jr.? Merle Haggard?  Hank Williams III?  If the bad boy, country gangsta image that these boys presented in their music is consistent with their character and their behavior, they are, or, in some cases, were considered fallen out of Santa's good graces.  "Ladies love Outlaws," but apparently, Santa's not so thrilled with them. 

Johnny Cash was one of those rare figures who must have seen God as an unconditionally loving God, because he celebrated God, while embracing his own shortcomings as a human being, and he frequently boldly visited his dark side.  His God was a God of redemption.  Okay, now first of all, somebody told you, or you discovered by accident, that there is no Santa.  If that weren't devastating enough news, I've just told you that you have to be good to get in with Santa's good graces----no outlaws allowed. 

But where would country music be without our outlaws?  I love 'em.  God loves 'em.  But if it were up to Santa, all of their gold records may have just turned into lumps of coal.  Ho! Ho! Ho! How do you like them Christmas apples?  Santa, we still love you, but you've got to stop checking your list.  Our outlaws of country may not have all been symbols of purity, but you have to admit, they were, and are, pretty damned good at being bad!

I hope I haven't just rained, or rather, snowed, on your Christmas parade.  Maybe this new GL/BLTrack will help:


You Only Love Me When I'm Good
GL and Dr BLT
words and music by GL and Dr BLT