Page 55 - Write Away Magazine Dec 2019

Rollin Jewett

I Aint Workin On Christmas

There are songs I’m literally embarrassed to tell anyone how some quality time with their loved ones. My belief is that
long they took me to write, lest one get the false impression those who want to work on Christmas, due to necessity or
that I’m a careless hack of a songwriter. But really, several religious beliefs, should be allowed. But those who want to
of what I consider to be my best songs have been the easiest stay home with their families should be allowed to do that as
to write. So easy, in fact, that they almost write themselves well -- without fear of losing their jobs (like the man in the
because the ideas, rhymes and word flow seems to come song).
so effortlessly. “I Ain’tWorkin’ on Christmas” is one of
those songs. I wrote it barely a year ago and have almost no Rollin Jewett bio
recollection of having written it. I know I started with the
title. After that, it’s a blur.But let’s start with the title: A man Singer/songwriter Rollin Jewett grew up in South Florida
proclaims he’s not working on Christmas. Easy enough. Then and has lived in New York, Los Angeles and Phoenix, to
what happens? Those were the questions I wanted to answer. name a few influences. Music has always been a priority in
Rollin’s life and he’s been writing songs for as long as he can
According to statistics, millions of people will work on remember. In addition to singing and songwriting, Rollin
Christmas day every year. And the numbers keep growing. has also written and acted in several films and is a published
Let’s consider some of the obvious folks that will have to poet, playwright & short story writer. In 2016, Rollin’s outlaw
work: doctors, nurses, policemen, firemen, caregivers, utility rocker “Ride Tall” was a prize winner 2016 IMSTA FESTA
workers, clergy, and journalists. Beyond that, however, there International Songwriting Competition in Chicago. In 2015,
are many others that, due to the profitability of remaining Rollin’s heartfelt love song “Arizona Sun” was also a finalist
open when many businesses are closed, are forced to work: in the same competition. Rollin has licensed several songs in
these are store clerks, grocery clerks, truck drivers, and top platforms and is featured on several international com-
restaurant workers, etc., who are not volunteering to work on pilation albums. His musical influences range from rock to
Christmas, but are forced to by employers eager to make a country to folk to alternative to pop. An avid world traveler,
buck on a holiday when stores are traditionally closed. Rollin currently makes his home in North Carolina and is
presently working on new songs for an upcoming album.
Christmas used to be an untouchable holiday. Everyone oth-
er than the necessary above-mentioned workers had the day For website follow this link....
off to be with their families. In fact, so was Thanksgiving in
America…until “Black Friday” came along and shook things
up, breaking that traditional mold. According to Wikipedia
regarding Black Friday for many years, it was common for
retailers to open at 6:00 a.m.on Friday morning after
Thanksgiving. But in the late 2000s many had crept to 5:00 or
4:00. This was taken to a new extreme in 2011, when several
retailers opened at midnight for the first time. In 2012, Wal-
mart and several other retailers announced that they would
open most of their stores at 8:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day,
prompting calls for a walkout among some workers. In 2014,
stores such as JCPenney, Best Buy, and Radio Shack opened
at 5:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day while stores such as Target,
Walmart, Belk, and Sears opened at 6:00 PM on Thanks-
giving Day. Three states, Rhode Island, Maine, and Massa-
chusetts, prohibit large supermarkets, big box stores, and
department stores from opening on Thanksgiving.

My thought was “What’s next?” Christmas, of course! And it
seems to be happening. More and more retailers and restau-
rants are now open on Christmas day, forcing workers, many
who would rather be home enjoying quiet time with their
families, to be on duty so their employers can make a few
extra holiday dollars. So…the song is a reaction against that
materialistic mentality and an outspoken retort on behalf of
the working men (and women) who simply want to spend

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