Phoebe Bridgers Drops Her Annual Christmas Song

Christmas has come early for the fans Phoebe Bridgers. The musician released her annual Christmas cover today for Giving Tuesday, debuting her rendition of “Day After Tomorrow.” You can listen to the music above, but get some tissues first.

“Day After Tomorrow” was originally recorded by legendary musician and songwriter Tom Waits and released on a 2004 LP. Real Gone. Waits shares songwriting credits on the album with Kathleen Brennan, his wife and longtime collaborator. You can listen to the original recording of Waits here.

Bridgers produces the new track with Tony Berg and Ethan Gruska, who produced the musician’s debut LP Strangers in the Alps. Her version incorporates memorable holiday tunes like “Silent Night” while retaining the heavy, elegant tone of the original recording. “Day After Tomorrow” is particularly recognized as the most vocal protest song on the album, condemning the Iraq War with lyrics such as:

I don’t fight

Justice

I don’t fight

Give freedom

I’m fighting

For my life

Christmas-themed covers have become an annual tradition for the artist, who often turns back to his inspirations in 20th-century America and folklore. Last year, Bridgers mention Merle Haggard’s logo “If We Make It Through December.” As with her other covers, there is a philanthropy behind the release.

Dead Oceans, representing Bridgers, announced on Twitter that all proceeds from the track (on streaming and available for purchase via Camping group) will benefit Los Angeles International Institute’ Family Empowerment & Local Integration. The group supports refugees, migrants and survivors of human trafficking in Southern California.

Waiting for the most recent album, As bad as me, was released in 2011. Over the past decade, he’s had a number of live and television performances, including on Late Show with David Letterman. Waits has a role in the 2018 Netflix anthology series of the Coen Brothers Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

Bridger recently toured in the US and in October released a cover in Bo Burnham’s “That Funny Feeling,” with proceeds going to various groups that support abortion in Texas.