Christmas Carol - Mary Chapin Carpenter

The week before Thanksgiving Day

This town puts up its old display

Streetlights hung with candy canes and bows

The earlier it gets each year

The scarcer is my Christmas cheer

I guess I just like taking these things slow

I really don’t remember much

Of Christmasses growing up

Except the year the Beatles came to play

On my record player that came from Sears

That White Album filled my ears

In 1968 on Christmas Day

I haven’t been to church since God knows when

I’m not someone who usually attends

Truth be told there’s just two wishes

On my list every Christmas

Peace on earth and a snow storm now and then

Now I pray that peace comes in our time

It’s hard enough to keep from crying

When every bit of news just breaks your heart

The same old stories, same old songs

We dust them off when Christmas comes

And for one day we just try to do our part

And around here winter seems to come

With rain and mud and bits of sun

It’s not exactly Currier and Ives

I don’t mind cold if it brings snow

Alberta Clippers coem and go

But a dursting would make everything all right

Perhaps a Christmas eve from long ago

Delivered Christmas day with knee-high snow

It’s something lost but not forgotten

Like candy hidden in a stocking

That makes me every year wish it were so

Because Christmas is for children’s joy

For every single girl and boy

That’s the truth we come to understand

But the memories that don’t let go

Like Beatles songs and falling snow

Can make us feel innocent again

And maybe next year we won’t go insane

When they rush to hang the bows and candy canes

Because peace will shine in me and you

From Bethlehem to Timbuktu

Even if the forecast is for rain

Because peace will shine in me and you

From Bethlehem to Timbuktu

Even if the forecast is for rain