In the African-American musical tradition known as the blues, Christmas plays an important part. “Santa Claus” and “Christmas” were once code-words referring to a separated mate — Christmas-time often saw liberty for slaves to travel to different plantations to visit loved ones. More recently the words have added the connotation of sex or sensual pleasure. “I Want a Present for Christmas”, sang J.R. Summer, who was not referring to a neck-tie or socks, “you can fill up my stockings with any girl.” Count Basie’s “Good Morning Blues (I Want to See Santa Claus”) implored the gift-bringer not to bring him anything but his baby back.
John Lee Hooker’s lament here is typical of the genre: