They said there’ll be snow at Christmas
They said there’ll be peace on earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the virgin birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winter’s light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire
And in despair, I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth”, I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men
Fall, so shall we fall into the nihil?
The nothingness that we feel in the arms of the pale
In the shadow of the grim companion who walks with us
Here at the edge of this world
Here I gaze at a pantheon of oak, a citadel of stone
If this grand panorama before me is what you call God
Then God is not dead
Oh, my friends
It’s been a long hard year
But now it’s Christmas
Yes, it’s Christmas
Thank God, it’s Christmas
Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of year
Christmas Time is Here – Vince Guaraldi Trio
-“BB”-
It’s Christmas time in Hollis Queens
Mom’s cooking chicken and collard greens
Rice and stuffing, macaroni and cheese
And Santa put gifts under Christmas trees
It’s X-Mas on the Isthmus of Panama
We’re listless this Christmas
No Santa Claus
No wise men, no angels
River red, runs like lead
And the smell of kerosene in my head
Stuck in here in this shit hole
Reading foreign magazines instead
“But senor, I only have ten dollars,
Can’t you give me a room for the night?”
We argue about currency and then
He says I can stay for the night
In this Panama City motel
I am out on the freeway again
Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
But remember the Red River Valley
And the one that has loved you so true
Now, won’t you bat it down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on.
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans.
Go on, I’ve had enough; dump my blues down in the gulf.
She loves you, Big River, more than me.
Let the river run
Let all the dreamers wake the nation
Come, the New Jerusalem
Silver cities rise
The morning lights the streets that lead them
And sirens call them on with a song
It’s coming on Christmas, they’re cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
If you should go skating
On the thin ice of modern life
Dragging behind you the silent reproach
Of a million tear-stained eyes
Don’t be surprised when a crack in the ice
Appears under your feet.
You slip out of your depth and out of your mind
With your fear flowing out behind you
As you claw the thin ice.
'Cause you were bred for humanity
And sold to society
One day you’ll wake up in the present day
A million generations removed from expectations
Of being who you really want to be
Skating away, skating away, skating away
On the thin ice of the new day
Slip sliding away, slip sliding away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip sliding away.
Slip Sliding Away – Paul Simon
-“BB”-
What would I give for just a few moments
What would I give just to have you near
Tell me you will try to slip away somehow
Oh, I need you darling I want to see you right now
Can you slip away, slip away, slip away
Oh, I need you so
I’m speeding past trees, leavin’
Little lines in the ice
Cutting out little lines in the ice
Splitting, splitting sound
Silver heels spitting, spitting snow
There’s something moving under (under the ice)
Moving under ice through water
Trying to (it’s me) get out of the cold water (it’s me)
Something (it’s me), someone help them
Baby, it’s cold outside.
Ice, ice baby, too cold
Ice, ice baby, too cold, too cold
Ice, ice baby, too cold, too cold
Ice, ice baby, too cold, too cold
You’re as cold as ice
You’re willing to sacrifice our love
You never take advice
Some day, you’ll pay the price
I know
I’ve seen it before, it happens all the time
You’re closing the door, you leave the world behind
You’re digging for gold, you’re throwing away
A fortune in feelings but, some day, you’ll pay