John Mayer – The Xmas Songs
We’re counting down John Mayer’s top five live Christmas songs. Although he hasn’t released a Christmas album yet, he’s said he plans to make one when he turns 50. Since Christmas albums are recorded in the summer for winter release, we may not be too far off from hearing it. Mayer has mentioned that his holiday record will be bluesy and soulful, and that he wants it to make a real contribution to the world of Christmas pop albums. Our favorite Mayer Christmas performance is Please Come Home for Christmas, a song that gives him the perfect space for his bluesy guitar phrasing and soulful voice to shine.
5) Have Yourself a Merry Xmas
It’s cool to see John step out from behind the guitar and sing with nothing but a microphone in hand. This version, recorded for his podcast Current Mood with a piano backing track, shows a different side of him. He adds some playful humor in the second verse by switching up the lyrics, and there are genuinely funny moments where he just lets loose and has fun with it. Vocally, he delivers some nice vibrato throughout, giving the performance both personality and musicality.
4) All I Want For Christmas
This performance captures John Mayer in his early singer-songwriter, acoustic phase—raw, intimate, and rhythmically driven. The chord progression feels wonderfully crafted, and the way he builds the guitar part has the same propulsive momentum you hear in the fast piano accompaniment of Mariah Carey’s version. Vocally, he keeps the melody grounded in his lower register, giving the song a warmer, more understated feel that contrasts beautifully with the original’s soaring delivery. It’s a thoughtful reinterpretation that highlights Mayer’s sensitivity to both rhythm and emotional dynamics.
3) I’ll Be Home For Xmas
This is a beautiful rendition of I’ll Be Home For Christmas, featuring rich, jazzy acoustic guitar chords and John’s soulful vocals. It’s Mayer at the height of his musical powers—just his voice and an acoustic guitar, proving how powerful simplicity can be. He slips into some gorgeous falsetto moments, and the way he reshapes the melody both rhythmically and pitch-wise brings a fresh emotional depth to the song. In his highest vocal reaches, there are even shades of Jeff Buckley’s ethereal intensity, adding another emotional color to the performance. A truly great live rendition that showcases both restraint and brilliance.
2) CVS Bag
We really hope CVS Bag finds its way onto John’s upcoming Christmas album. Originally created for his show Current Mood, the song blends a memorable vocal melody—sitting right in Mayer’s sweet spot—with his playful, comedic approach to holiday music. The lyrics are delightfully relatable and tongue-in-cheek, including: “CVS Bag on the table, CVS Bag you’re all that I have, CVS Bag it’s mostly snacks and a charger cable, CVS Bag and a thing for my dad.” It’s a perfect mix of melody, humor, and that unmistakable Mayer charm.
1) Please Come Home for Christmas
This blues-soaked rendition would make Freddie King and B.B. King proud. His soulful vocals weave seamlessly between bursts of electrifying blues licks, giving the song a fresh melodic shape without losing its core emotion. Those classic breathy vocal moments add even more character, reminding you why his voice carries so much weight in the genre. As Eric Clapton once said, he truly is an electric blues guitar master—whether he realizes it or not.
