As the narrator walks down the "windy winter avenue" and encounters these holiday festivities, he admits that he wishes he and his lover could reunite.

Instead of encouraging the holiday spirit, the narrator hints that these elements remind him of past Christmases with his lover, only making him sad that they are no longer together.

However, even as he encounters these sad reminders, the narrator finds room for optimism, suggesting that "it doesn't have to be that way," and that his relationship with his lover could "easily" be rekindled if they attempted to do so.

Finally, the narrator resolves to visit his lover's house "today," so that they can "get it together tonight," overcoming their problems to begin their relationship once more.

According to liner notes of the album Billboard stated that "Croce's tender interpretation matches the lost love, I hope I can regain it feel" of the song.