Let's Not Go Shopping

About

Let’s Not Go Shopping is one of the most humorous originals on The Christmas Present, written by Robbie Williams with Kelvin Andrews and Danny Spencer. Swinging and tongue-in-cheek, the track turns festive consumerism on its head with witty lyrics about avoiding the chaos of crowded shops. Williams explained that the song was inspired by his own aversion to Christmas shopping, saying, “Shopping’s not my favourite thing to do. Fortunately, I have a wife that takes care of everything, and I pay for it.”

Musically, the song harks back to mid-century big-band style, led by jaunty brass, rhythm guitar and a lively rhythm section. Its cheeky refrain, “Let’s not go shopping,” contrasts with the glamour of the album’s more sentimental numbers, showing Williams’s comic timing and swing credentials. The song celebrates simplicity, rejecting the stress of consumer culture for the comfort of home: “No retail tension, no stress or strife, just do it online.”

Written and produced in collaboration with his long-time Stoke-on-Trent partners, the track captures their knack for combining humour with melody. It was first mentioned during a YouTube live session in 2018, when Williams almost previewed it before stopping himself, joking that it might end up in an advert. With its playful tone and infectious rhythm, the song became a fan favourite for its relatable honesty and holiday satire.

“It’s about the materialism of Christmas and the act of going out there amongst all those people that are cramming in all their shopping because it’s too late. It’s not a pleasurable experience.”Robbie Williams

Let’s Not Go Shopping balances sharp wit with vintage swing style, standing out as one of the album’s cleverest and most characterful originals.