Wham!’s “Last Christmas” is a holiday staple, undeniably catchy and instantly recognizable. Yet, beneath the festive synths and George Michael’s soulful voice, a lyrical enigma persists. Why, in a song about heartbreak during the holidays, does the line “Last Christmas, I gave you my heart” lead to “…but the very next day, you gave it away”? It’s a lyrical choice that has left many listeners, and songwriters alike, scratching their heads. Let’s delve into the rhyme and reason, or perhaps the lack thereof, behind this enduring Christmas classic and its perplexing chorus.
The chorus, the most memorable part of the song, is also the source of much lyrical debate. Here’s a refresher for those holiday amnesia moments:
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart,
But the very next day, you gave it away.
This year, to save me from tears,
I’ll give it to someone special
Analyzing this from a traditional rhyming perspective, we see an ABCD scheme. For those familiar with poetry, this immediately stands out as… not rhyming. The words “heart,” “away,” “tears,” and “special” share no phonetic similarities at their stressed syllable endings. Digging a bit deeper, we can look at internal rhymes within the lines themselves:
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart,
But the very next day, you gave it away.
This year, to save me from tears,
I’ll give it to someone special.
This reveals an ABBCCD pattern. While “day” and “away” rhyme, and “year” and “tears” rhyme, the prominent word, “heart,” remains stubbornly unrhymed. Furthermore, “special” feels like a lyrical letdown, hanging awkwardly at the end without any rhyming partner or thematic contrast to the previous heartbreak. Given the context of lost love, one might expect the “someone special” to be contrasted with the person who caused the pain, but the lyrics offer no such distinction.
Imagine asking someone unfamiliar with “Last Christmas” to fill in the blanks in the chorus. They might naturally create something more conventionally structured and, arguably, more satisfying:
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart,
But the very next day, you took it apart.
This year, to save me from tears,
I’ll give it to someone dear.
Here, we have a simple AABB rhyme scheme. It’s not groundbreaking poetry, but it delivers the predictability and sonic satisfaction that often makes pop music so appealing. Our brains are wired to recognize patterns, and rhymes provide that rewarding sense of anticipation and fulfillment. “Took it apart,” while a common metaphor for heartbreak, resonates more strongly with the act of damaging a heart than the somewhat vague “gave it away.” Even “threw it away” would arguably be a stronger, more impactful choice.
We can even refine this further to create a more sophisticated rhyme scheme while maintaining lyrical coherence:
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart,
But it’s very clear, you broke it apart.
This year, to save me from tears,
I’ll make a choice that’s smart.
This version employs an ABABBA rhyme scheme, eliminating the slightly loose “day” in the second line and creating a tighter, more musically pleasing structure. The point is, crafting a rhyming chorus that is both structurally sound and emotionally resonant isn’t an insurmountable challenge. This begs the question: how did a song with such a glaringly odd lyrical choice become one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time? Why, when a simple rhyme like “heart” and “apart” seems so obvious, did “Last Christmas” opt for “gave it away”?
Perhaps the unconventional rhyme scheme, or lack thereof, contributes to the song’s unique character and enduring appeal. It certainly sets it apart from more saccharine holiday tunes. However, for those who appreciate lyrical craftsmanship, “Last Christmas” remains a perplexing, albeit catchy, example of pop songwriting. It’s a song that, much like Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder’s “Ebony and Ivory,” can spark late-night debates about the nature of “half-assed art” and the mysteries of musical popularity.
Note: This analysis is intended as a lighthearted critique of the songwriting of “Last Christmas” and not as a reflection on the artistry or legacy of George Michael. His passing serves as a poignant reminder of his immense talent and the impact of his music, even when we playfully dissect the occasional lyrical quirk.
