Lyrics down below.
Nerissa and Katryna Nields have been singing together since they were little girls, but they only began their professional career as the folk-rock duo The Nields 31 years and 20 albums ago.
Their musical roles go back to their childhood. Katryna is the lead singer with a powerful and expressive delivery; Nerissa prefers singing harmony and is their songwriter. (In fact, she wrote this song.) I could tell you more about them because I read this bio from their website, but you should read it yourself because they tell the story much better than I could.
Merry Christmas Mr. Jones is on their Christmas album called Joy To The World which they released in 2017. Joining the duo for this song are: Dave Chalfant on bass, Dave Hower on drums, David Nields on electric guitar, and Dar Williams and Mahlon Stewart additional vocals.
I was able to track down the lyrics of the song from here.
Merry Christmas Mr. Jones written by Nerissa Nields © 1993 Peter Quince Productions, ASCAP
Merry Christmas, Mr. JonesI was in your Ancient History class last springI was the straight A student who never triedAnd I argued with the boys until they cried
I was always a little weirdI dressed in black and I weighed more than a young girl shouldStill I'd like to thank you for being thereWhen I always felt so misunderstood
You know, Mr. Jones, I got knocked up over vacationYeah it sort of labeled me as strangeAnd here I find myself this Christmas EveWith a babe in a hospital manger
Gloria Gloria Gloria In excelsis deo
Must be this post partum thingBut I feel nothing at all for that babe in the mangerI'm just thinking of my friendsAnd how they'll deal with me and this new stranger
And I was thinking of youAnd how you taught us that Mary kept her thoughts in her heartAnd how Joseph was angry at firstAnd how he tried to get away
But you see, Mr. Jones, there's no angel for meAnd there is no one to carry my loadThere is no one by my side nowTo guide me down the road
Chorus
Merry Christmas Mr. JonesI've been watching the hospital TV all night longAnd my parents are coming to pick us upBefore too long
So I will try to wrap this upThere's redemption when you confess your sins to someoneIn these two thousand years of quality timeWell that much I can believe in
'Cause you know, Mr. Jones, I don't feel angry anymoreAnd I'm not trying to be deceptiveIt's a Christmas present of a different kindAnd it's one that I accept
Chorus
