Christmas Carol

On this Christmas Eve, as snow falls outside here in Dallas, I'm listening to Mary Chapin Carpenter's great holiday CD "Come Darkness, Come Light."

And her song, "Christmas Carol" struck me. We're counting this as a rare White Christmas, whether or not it sticks on the ground, or there's any here tomorrow. And out at the stores a moment ago, how great it was to see the expressions on people's faces as they came outside, looked up to feel Christmas Eve snow falling on their faces.

Christmas Carol
by 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 Christmases 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 come and go
But a dusting 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.