ANOTHER YEAR HAS COME AND
PAST
LIKE MOMENTS THROUGH AN HOURGLASS
AND AT THE END OF THIS YEARÕS TRAIL
AN OFFERING, A FINAL TALE
OF LOVE, LONG LOST
AND THEN REFOUND
AND THE CHILD BY WHICH
THOSE DREAMS WERE BOUND
OF A DUSTY HOTEL
THAT WAS LONG PAST OLD
AND THE SHADOWS AND THE
MEMORIES
ITS HALLWAYS STILL HOLD
FOR THINGS THAT ARE OLD
HAVE THE BEST TALES TO
TELL
AND USUALLY,
THEY TELL THEM WELL
AND SO ITÕS HERE, MY DEAR
CHILDREN
THAT OUR STORY TRULY
STARTS
WHEN THE LORD SENT ONCE MORE TO THE EARTH
AN ANGEL, WITH
A CHILDLIKE HEART
AND ON THIS
NIGHT HIS MISSION WAS
TO FIND
SOMEWHERE ON THIS EARTH
THAT HUMAN
THAT BEST REFLECTED HIS SON
AND CARRIED ON
HIS WORK
AND SINCE THIS
MISSION FROM HIS LORD
HAD TO BE
COMPLETED ON THIS ONE NIGHT
THE ANGEL
QUICKLY UNFOLDED HIS WINGS
AND TOWARDS
THE EARTH TOOK FLIGHT
AND THIS
NIGHT, IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT GUESSED
WAS ONCE MORE
CHRISTMAS EVE
WHEN SNOW AND
LIGHT AND ANGELSÕ FLIGHTS
ALL TOGETHER
WEAVE
BUT OF THE
ANGELÕS INSTRUCTIONS
THERE WAS ONE
THING MORE
THAT WOULD
MAKE THIS JOURNEY TO THE EARTH
HARDER THAN
ALL THE ONES BEFORE
FOR THE LORD
HAD ALSO TOLD THE ANGEL
THAT HE COULD ONLY USE HIS WINGS TWICE THIS CHRISTMAS EVE
ONCE WHEN HE DESCENDED TO
THE EARTH
AND ONCE MORE WHEN HE
WOULD LEAVE
(NOT UNLIKE OURSELVES SOME THINK,
OR AT LEAST SO I BELIEVE)
NOW THIS PUT QUITE A
COMPLICATION
IN WHAT THE ANGEL
PLANNED
FOR NOW HE HAD TO CHOOSE
MOST CAREFULLY
EXACTLY WHERE HE WOULD LAND
HE NEEDED TO FIND A SINGLE
PLACE
THAT WOULD REPRESENT ALL
MANKIND
BUT HUMANS WERE SUCH A
VARIED LOT
SUCH A PLACE WOULD SURELY
BE HARD TO FIND
A SINGLE PLACE WHERE THERE
WOULD BE
HUMANS OF EVERY RACE AND
CREED
THE RICH AND POOR, THE
THRILLED AND BORED
THE FAILURES WITH THOSE WHO SUCCEED
BUT AFTER A FEW MOMENTS
CAREFULLY PLACED IN
THOUGHT
THE ANSWER APPEARED IN THE
ANGELÕS MIND
THE CITY CALLED NEW YORK
AND AS HE NEARED THAT
CITY
WHERE ALL THOSE SOULS DID
DWELL
HE FELT HIMSELF BEING
DRAWN TOWARDS
AN OLD, RUNDOWN HOTEL
FOR IN A CITY THAT USUALLY
HAD
GUARDS AT NEARLY EVERY
SINGLE DOOR
THIS ONE JUST HAD A SIGN
THAT SAID ÒVACANCIES,
THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR
ONE MOREÓ
NOW WHY THE ANGEL DECIDED
TO STOP THERE
HE COULD NOT QUITE SAY THE
REASON
BUT HE THOUGHT THE SIGN
UPON THAT HOTEL
SOMEHOW FIT THE SENTIMENT OF
THIS SEASON
NOW EVEN AFTER ALL THESE
YEARS
THE BUILDING WAS STILL A
WORK OF ART
AND THOUGH SOME FA‚ADE HAD
CRUMBLED HERE AND THERE
MOST STILL HAD THEIR PARTS
THE WALLS WERE MADE OF GRANITE
NOT ALUMINUM OR STEEL
AND EVERY PILLAR AND
BALLISTRADE
STILL HAD ITS ARTISTÕS
FEEL
EVERY GUTTER HAD A
GARGOYLE
EVERY GARGOYLE HAD ITS
WINGS
FOR ANGELS CAN
APPRECIATE
OTHER FLYING THINGS
SO HE LANDED ON A
CATHEDRAL ROOF
ACROSS THE STREET FROM
THAT HOTEL
AND LOOKED DOWN UPON THE
WORLD BELOW
WHERE ALL THOSE SOULS DID
DWELL
AND SITTING ON THAT
ROOFTOP
WITH HIS FRIEND THE WINTER WIND
HE GAZED CAREFULLY AT THAT
SCENE BELOW
AS HE SLOWLY TOOK IT IN
ON A STREET IN THE NIGHT
IN THE COLD WINTERÕS LIGHT
A CHILD STANDS ALONE AND
SHEÕS WAITING
AND THE LIGHT THATÕS OUT
THERE
IT JUST HANGS IN THE AIR
AS IF IT WAS JUST HESITATING
AND THE SNOW IT COMES DOWN
AND IT MUFFLES THE SOUND
OF DREAMS ON THEIR WAY TO
TOMORROW
AND WHEN THEY APPEAR
THIS
NIGHT WILL HOLD THEM NEAR
FOR WHERE THEY WILL LEAD
SHE WILL FOLLOW
FOR HERE IN THIS
CITY OF LIGHTS
THIS EVENING
AWAKENS
THE DREAMS THAT
IT MIGHT
THE WINTER IT CONJURES
THE SPELLS IT
WILL WEAVE
THE SNOW GENTLY
COVERS THE GROUND
CHRISTMAS EVE
IN THIS SCENE
ON THIS NIGHT
THEREÕS AN ANCIENT HOTEL
WHERE SHADOWS THEY DO TEND TO
WANDER
AND THE GHOSTS THAT LIVE HERE
HOLD EACH MOMENT SO DEAR
FOR TIMEÕS NOT A THING ONE
SHOULD SQUANDER
AND THEY RECOUNT THEIR SAND
AS IT RUNS THROUGH THEIR HAND
AND EXAMINE EACH MOMENT FOR
MEANING
IT CAN BE WISHED UPON
TILL THE MOMENT ITÕS GONE
LIKE DAY DISAPPEARS INTO
EVENING
FOR HERE IN THIS CITY OF
LIGHTS
THIS EVENING AWAKENS
THE DREAMS THAT IT MIGHT
THE WINTER IT CONJURES
THE MOMENT IS SEIZED
THE SNOW GENTLY COVERS THE
GROUND
CHRISTMAS EVE
MERRY CHRISTMAS
MERRY CHRISTMAS
MERRY CHRISTMAS
MERRY CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS
THROUGH THIS NIGHT
THE DREAM STILL WANDERS
AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE
AND EVERY YEAR THIS NIGHT
GROWS FONDER
OF CHILDREN AND
CIRCUMSTANCE
CAUGHT IN THIS CHILDHOOD
DANCE
AS THE WORLD TURNS AROUND
KEEPING DREAMS ON THE GROUND
WINDOWS OF FROSTED ICE
PRISMING CANDLELIGHT
AND SOMEHOW WE
START TO BELIEVE
IN THE NIGHT AND THE DREAM
AS IT CUTS THROUGH THE NOISE
WITH THE WHISPER OF SNOW
AS IT STARTS TO DEPLOY
IN THE DEPTHS OF A NIGHT
THATÕS ABOUT TO BEGIN
WITH THE FEELING OF SNOW
AS IT MELTS ON YOUR SKIN
AND IT COVERS THE LAND
WITH A DREAM SO INTENSE
THAT IT RETURNS US ALL
TO A CHILDÕS INNOCENCE
AND THEN WHAT YOUÕD THOUGHT
LOST
AND COULD NEVER RETRIEVE
IS SUDDENLY THERE TO BE FOUND
ON CHRISTMAS EVE
ON CHRISTMAS EVE
ON CHRISTMASÉ
AND SO IT WAS
IN FRONT OF THIS HOTEL
OUR ANGEL DID
FINALLY ARRIVE
AND STANDING AT ONE CORNER WAS A YOUNG MAN
WHO CAUGHT THE
ANGELÕS EYE
HE HAD A SMALL
GROUP OF CHILDREN
GATHERED ROUND
HIM THERE
WHO ALL WERE
QUIETLY LISTENING
WHICH FOR
CHILDREN IS QUITE RARE
HE WAS TELLING
THEM CHRISTMAS TALES
AND EACH ONE
BROUGHT MORE CHILDREN NEAR
WHERE THEY NESTLED ROUND HIM
ON THOSE STEPS
SO EACH WORD THEY COULD
CLEARLY HEAR
HE THEN TOLD
THEM A CHRISTMAS STORY
ABOUT HOW ALL
MEN ARE BROTHERS
AND WHEN THAT
STORY HAD ENDED
THE CHILDREN
CLAMORED FOR ANOTHER
ÒWHERE DOES
CHRISTMAS GO
WHEN ITS DAY
IS THROUGH?
WHERE DOES
CHRISTMAS GO,Ó THEY ASKED,
ÒAND WHAT DOES
CHRISTMAS DO?Ó
NOW CHILDREN
HAVE SUCH SIMPLE REQUESTS
THEIR WISHES ARE SO SMALL
THAT THE YOUNG
MAN SAW NO REASON WHY
HE COULD NOT
GRANT THEM ALL
SOMEWHERE BEYOND WHERE THE
LIGHT RARELY GOES
SOMEWHERE BEYOND WHERE THE
DARK BARELY BREATHES
SOMEWHERE THIS NIGHT WHERE
THE DARK ONLY KNOWS
SHE AWAITS EVER PATIENT
SHE AWAITS RARELY SEEN
BUT HER MOMENTS ARE TAKEN
FOR IN THE DEAD
OF THE NIGHT
GATHERING LIGHT
CHRISTMAS DREAMS
I WANT TO WRAP
ALL MY MOMENTS AROUND HER
I WANT TO WATCH
AS SHE GLITTERS THE NIGHT
FLOATS HER DREAMS
IN THE AIR
PEOPLE WATCH,
CHILDREN STARE
AT THESE TEARS OF
CAPTURED LIGHT
WHILE SHE AWAITS
EVER PATIENT
SHE AWAITS RARELY
SEEN
STILL HER MOMENTS
ARE TAKEN
FOR IN THE DEAD
OF THE NIGHT
GATHERING LIGHT
CHRISTMAS DREAMS
AND A TEAR FALLS
UPON HER SNOW-WHITE HAIR
AND IT RUNS TO THE END WHERE
IT LINGERS THERE
THEN IT FALLS THROUGH THE AIR
OF A WINTERÕS SKY
TILL IT CAPTURES A DREAM AND
ITÕS CRYSTALIZED
LET IT GO!
LET IT GO!
THIS OLD WORLD THAT I KNOW
FOR SOON EVERYTHING WILL BE
CHANGING
IN A SINGLE GLANCE
WHERE IT ALL ENCHANTS
AND EVERY HOPE IS WORTH SAVING
AND A TEAR FALLS UPON HER SNOW-WHITE HAIR
AND IT RUNS TO THE END WHERE
IT LINGERS THERE
THEN IT FALLS THROUGH THE AIR
OF A WINTERÕS SKY
TILL IT CAPTURES A DREAM AND
ITÕS CRYSTALIZED
LET IT GO!
LET IT GO!
THIS OLD WORLD THAT I KNOW
FOR SOON EVERYTHING WILL BE
CHANGING
IN A SINGLE GLANCE
WHERE IT ALL ENCHANTS
AND EVERY HOPE
EVERY HOPE
EVERY HOPE IS WORTH SAVING
THEY LIKED HIS STORIES SO
MUCH
THEY BEGGED HIM NOT TO LET
IT END
SO HE TOLD THEM ABOUT THE WIZARDS OF WINTER
WHOSE WINTER BALL THEY
MUST ATTEND
HOW THESE WIZARDS
DECORATED THEIR WHOLE WORLD
WITH ICICLES, FROST AND
SNOW
AND HOW WITH THE DREAMS OF
THIS NIGHT BENEATH IT
IT ALL WOULD MAGICALLY
START TO GLOW
AND THE SNOW SEEMED TO
OBEY THE YOUNG MANÕS EVERY GESTURE
IN THE COLD DECEMBERÕS AIR
AND AS FOR THE WIZARDSÕ IMPERIAL BALL
WELL, THEY WERE ALREADY THERE
(INSTRUMENTAL)
NOW EVERY MOMENT THE ANGEL
SPENT LISTENING
HIS TIME ON EARTH
DIMINISHED
BUT THE ANGEL FOUND HIMSELF WAITING THERE
UNTIL EACH STORY WAS
FINISHED
HE HAD ONLY SEVERAL HOURS
LEFT
FOR THE QUEST HE HAD BEEN
ASSIGNED
BUT ANGELS LIKE SMALL
CHILDREN
HAVE TROUBLE KEEPING TRACK
OF TIME
BUT IN THE END IT SEEMED
THIS DELAY
HAD TURNED OUT FOR THE
BEST
FOR NOW THERE WERE
GROWNUPS ALL AROUND
LISTENING WITH THE REST
FOR AS THEY LISTENED TO HIS STORIES
EACH ONE TILL THE VERY END
THOSE ADULTS REMEMBERED
THEIR OWN CHILDHOODS
AND A TIME WHEN FAITH WAS
NOT PRETEND
REMEMBER
REMEMBER
REMEMBER LONG AGO
ON A NIGHT WITH A GENTLE
FALLING SNOW
FALLING SNOW
FALLING SNOW
CAN I OFFER YOU
WHAT CHRISTMAS DARES
TO KNOW?
CHRISTMAS IS HOW
IN EVERY NATION
THAT HOPE IS PASSED
THROUGH GENERATIONS
FROM OLD TO YOUNG
AND SOMETIMES IÕM TOLD
ITÕS
ACTUALLY PASSED
FROM YOUNG TO OLD
YES, OUR ANGEL HAD BEEN
QUITE IMPRESSED
WITH THIS YOUTH THAT HE
HAD FOUND
BUT THEN ACROSS THE STREET
HE HEARD
AN OLD FAMILIAR SOUND
IT WAS A MULTITUDE OF
VOICES
FROM THE OLD CATHEDRALÕS
CHOIR
SINGING OUT ABOUT THIS
NIGHT
AND THE HOPES THAT IT
INSPIRES
ON THIS NIGHT OF HOPE AND
SALVATION
ONE CHILD LIES EMBRACED IN A
DREAM
WHERE EACH MAN REGARDLESS OF
STATION
ON THIS NIGHT CAN NOW BE
REDEEMED
WHERE EVERY MAN REGARDLESS OF
HIS NATION
ANCESTRAL RELATIONS
ON THIS NIGHT THE PAST CAN
FLY AWAY
AND THAT DREAM WEÕVE DREAMED
MOST
THAT EVERY CHILD IS HELD
CLOSE
ON THIS NIGHT THAT DREAM
WONÕT BE BETRAYED
ALL AS ONE
RAISE YOUR VOICES!
RAISE YOUR VOICES!
ALL AS ONE
ON THIS CHRISTMAS DAY!
ALL REJOICE
RAISE YOUR VOICES!
RAISE YOUR
VOICES!
ALL REJOICE
ANNO DOMINE!
ON THIS NIGHT WHEN NO CHILDÕS
FORGOTTEN
NO DREAM SLEEPS WHERE HE
CANNOT SEE
NO MAN HERE IS MISBEGOTTEN
AND THIS NIGHTÕS DREAMS ARE
STILL YET TO BE
WHERE EVERY MAN REGARDLESS OF
HIS NATION
ANCESTRAL RELATIONS
ON THIS NIGHT THE PAST CAN
FLY AWAY
AND THAT DREAM WEÕVE DREAMED
MOST
THAT EVERY CHILD IS HELD
CLOSE
ON THIS NIGHT THAT DREAM
WONÕT BE BETRAYED
ALL AS ONE
RAISE YOUR
VOICES!
RAISE YOUR VOICES!
ALL AS ONE
ON THIS CHRISTMAS DAY!
ALL REJOICE
RAISE YOUR VOICES!
RAISE YOUR VOICES!
ALL REJOICE
ANNO DOMINE!
AFTER THE SONG WAS OVER
NEARLY EVERY PERSON THERE
WENT TO THE CATHEDRALÕS
BASEMENT
AND STARTED SETTING UP
TABLES AND CHAIRS
FOR THAT NIGHT THIS CHURCH
WOULD FEED
ANY PERSON IN LIFE WHO HAD
LESS
AND BOTH THOSE THAT GAVE
AND THOSE THAT RECEIVED
LEFT THAT NIGHT FEELING
BLESSED
THEN THE ANGEL REMEMBERED SOMETHING
THAT HIS
LORDÕS SON HAD ONCE SAID
ON HOW ONE
TRULY FOLLOWED HIM
WHEN WORDS AND
ACTS WERE WED
SOME PEOPLE
CLAIM TO FOLLOW HIM
BUT THEMSELVES
THEY JUST DECEIVE
FOR HIS LORDÕS
SON HAD SAID,
ÒYOU WILL KNOW
WHO TRULY FOLLOWS ME
NOT BY WHAT THEY SAY, BUT
BY THEIR DEEDSÓ
AND THIS CHURCH WAS
CLEARLY FILLED
WITH KIND PEOPLE OF GOODWILL
BUT THE ANGEL HAD MORE
TIME LEFT ON THIS NIGHT
AND CONTINUED TO SEARCH ON
STILL
SO THE ANGEL LEFT THE
PARISHIONERS
WITH THEIR CHRISTMAS MEAL
IN HAPPY BLISS
AND RETURNED ONCE MORE TO
THE HOTEL
TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE
WAS NO ONE THERE HE HAD MISSED
AND PASSING BY A VILLAGE
SQUARE
HE HEARD A BRASS QUARTET
WHOSE CHRISTMAS CONCERTO
IN THE KEY OF G
HE FELT LIGHTEN HIS EVERY
STEP
(INSTRUMENTAL)
AND SO BACK AT THE HOTEL
OUR ANGEL AGAIN ARRIVED
BUT THIS TIME HE WENT UP
THE FRONT STEPS
WHICH, OF COURSE, LED HIM
INSIDE
(ITÕS ONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT ARCHITECTS
CONVENIENTLY DECIDE)
NOW HOTELS ARE QUITE LIKE PEOPLE
NO TWO EXACTLY THE SAME
AND THIS ONE HAD SUCH A
MAGICAL PAST
THE ANGEL FOUND HIMSELF
QUITE ENTERTAINED
THE FOYER STILL HAD AN
ELEGANCE
THAT THE YEARS COULD NOT
DISGUISE
AND THE SHADOWS OF
CHRISTMAS EVES LONG DISAPPEARED
THIS NIGHT, STILL GENTLY
GLIDED BY
FOR IN THIS HOTEL, HERE
SIDE BY SIDE
THE PAST AND THE PRESENT
DWELLED
AND THE GHOSTS WHO LIVED
HERE NOT ONLY LIVED
THEY HONESTLY, LIVED WELL
THE LOBBY HAD A STEINWAY
PIANO
THAT WAS STEEPED IN
MEMORIES
AND SOME SAID DUKE
ELLINGTONÕS FINGERS
STILL LINGERED ON THOSE
KEYS
THERE WAS A GRAND PALACE BALLROOM
WHERE PRINCESSES HAD ONCE
WALTZED
WHOSE BEAUTY AND SENSE OF
STYLE
THE NEWSPAPERS WOULD
CONSTANTLY EXHAULT
THE GHOSTS OF ROCKEFELLERS
AND VANDERBILTS
STILL MET AT THEIR
CHRISTMAS EVE CHARITY BALLS
RAISING MONEY NOT FOR
THEMSELVES
BUT RAISING IT FOR ALL
(AND THE SOUND OF THEIR
CHILDREN LAUGHING
STILL ECHOED IN THESE HALLS)
NOW THESE SPIRITS OF
COURSE, COULD NOT BE SEEN
BY ANY HUMAN EYES
BUT EACH ONE SMILED AT THE
ANGEL
WHEN THEY SAW HIM WALKING
BY
AND THESE GHOSTS REMINDED
THE ANGEL
HOW EVERY HUMAN WAITING TO
BE BORN,
AND EVERY LIFE THAT HAD
ALREADY LEFT
WHEN IT WAS TIRED OUT AND
WORN
WERE CONNECTED BY THOSE
ALIVE RIGHT NOW
WHICH GAVE THE LIVING
QUITE A TRUST,
TO PASS ON WHAT WAS BEST
AND GOOD
INSIDE OF EACH OF US
NOW WITHIN EACH GUEST ROOM
HE HEARD MANY HEARTS
AND BEHIND EACH HEART
THERE WAS A LIFE
AND THE ANGEL CAREFULLY
READ THEM ALL
WITH THE NEXT HOUR OF THAT
NIGHT
WHEN HE REACHED THE GRAND PALACE BALLROOM
IT WAS BEHIND CLOSED
MAHOGANY DOORS
AND WHEN THE ANGEL WAS
PASSING BY IT
HE COULD HEAR MUSIC BEGIN
ONCE MORE
IT SEEMED THAT SINCE THIS
ROOM WAS BUILT
MUSICIANS DID PERMANENTLY
RESIDE
AND THEN THE ANGEL DID
WHAT WE ALL WOULD DO
HE WENT TO LOOK INSIDE
AND THERE HE FOUND SUCH A MAJESTIC ORCHESTRA
TO PLEASE ALL, IT WOULD BE
ENOUGH
BUT THEN SOMEONE PLUGGED A
GUITAR IN
AND THE VOLUME, IT CREPT UP
SO WITH A SONG INSPIRED BY
MOZARTÕS
FAMOUS ÒQUEEN OF THE
NIGHTÓ
THE ORCHESTRA ADDED THE
WORD, ÒWINTERÓ
AND SOME NOTES, SOME FOG,
SOME LIGHTS
HE COULD HAVE STAYED THERE
THE ENTIRE NIGHT
FOR TO HIM MUSIC WAS THE
VOICE OF GOD
FOR IT NEVER NEEDED
TRANSLATION
AND COULD LIFT UP LIVES
THAT WERE OFTEN QUITE HARD
BUT THEN HE HEARD A
DIFFERENT KIND OF MUSIC
FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE CLOSE
BY
AND HE FOLLOWED THE TRAIL
OF THOSE NEW NOTES
TILL HE FOUND HIMSELF
OUTSIDE
THE NOTES LED HIM TO A
BLUES BAR
THAT WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE
HOTEL
AND THE ANGEL WATCHED SOME
LONELY PEOPLE ENTER IT
AND WONDERED IF THIS
WAS WHERE ALL THE LONELY
PEOPLE DID DWELL
THEN ANOTHER GUARDIAN
ANGEL
WHO HAPPENED TO BE NEAR
TOLD HIM ABOUT THE OLD
BLUES BAR
AND WHISPERED IN HIS EAR
"HERE THE TRAGICALLY
BEAUTIFUL
AND THE BEAUTIFULLY TRAGIC
DRIFT THROUGH THIS NIGHT
IN A LAST QUEST FOR MAGIC
THEIR FACES ARE MASKS
THAT SO ARTFULLY DISGUISE
THE WOUNDS IN THEIR HEARTS
THE SCARS IN THEIR EYES
NOW THESE SCARS IN THEIR
EYES
NEVER HURT, NEVER BLEED
BUT LIKE CRACKS IN A
MIRROR
THEY DISTORT ALL THEY SEE
FOR WHEN THE HEARTÕS AN
OPEN WOUND
ITS GREATEST THREAT, I
FEAR
IS THAT THE SALT RUBBED
INTO IT
DOES COME FROM ONEÕS OWN
TEARS
NOW THERE ARE MANY PLACES
ON THIS EARTH
THAT ONE THINKS THAT GOD
HAS FORGOT
BUT ONE CAN OFTEN FIND AN
ANGEL OR A SAINT
WHERE ONE ASSUMES ANGELS
AND SAINTS ARE NOTÓ
AND THEN THE OTHER ANGEL
REMINDED HIM
OF THEIR LORDÕS POINT OF
VIEW
ÒYOUÕLL KNOW THEM NOT BY
HOW THEY APPEAR
YOUÕLL KNOW THEM BY WHAT
THEY DOÓ
SO WHEN THE NEXT PATRON
WENT INSIDE
THE ANGEL FOLLOWED HIM
UNDETECTED
BUT WHAT HE FOUND WITHIN
THAT BAR
WAS NOT QUITE WHAT HE
EXPECTED
THERE WAS AN OLD PIANO
PLAYER THERE
PLAYING WITH A HONKY-TONK
SOUND
AND EVERYONE WHO ENTERED
THAT PLACE DEPRESSED
THAT PIANO PLAYER TURNED
THEIR NIGHT AROUND
AND ONE BY ONE HEÕD DRAW
EACH PERSON
OUT OF THEIR SELF-IMPOSED CAGE
AND BEFORE THEY REALIZED
IT
HE HAD THEM SINGING ON THE
STAGE
JUST ANOTHER NIGHT IN NEW
YORK CITY
SNOW COMES DOWN LOOKS REAL
PRETTY
DONÕT KNOW HOW BUT SUDDENLY
THERE YOU ARE
WITH JELLY ROLL MORTON
PLAYINÕ FOR THE BAR
INSIDE HERE, LIGHTS ARE LOW
BUT EACH SONG HAS ITS OWN
GLOW
AS HE FLOATS THEM THROUGH
THAT SMOKEY AIR
YOU JUST CANÕT BELIEVE HEÕS
REALLY THERE
HOW OLD IS HE?
CANNOT SAY
BUT CLAIMS HE TAUGHT CAB
CALLOWAY
AND ON THIS NIGHT I SOMEHOW
BELIEVE HIM
KNOWS EVERY SONG THAT
CHRISTMAS GOT
EVEN ONES MY BRAIN HAS
DROPPED
JUST HIM AND THAT OLD FIR
TREE
ALL LIT UP THIS NIGHT
ELECTRIC BLUE
JUST ANOTHER NIGHT IN NEW
YORK CITY
SNOW COMES DOWN LOOKS REAL
PRETTY
CANÕT BELIEVE BUT SUDDENLY
THERE YOU ARE
TALKING WITH STRANGERS
SITTINÕ CROSS THE BAR
SUDDENLY, ALL ARE LAUGHINÕ
THIS NIGHTÕS SMART, ALWAYS
CRAFTINÕ
BUILDING BRIDGES NEARLY
EVERYWHERE
HITS A WALL, IT JUST BUILDS A
STAIRS
OUTSIDE THE COLORED LIGHTS
THEY BLEED
FOR SNOW IS WHITE AND COLORS
NEED
AS IT JUST COMES DOWN LIKE
PURE SALVATION
IT OFFERS ALL ITS AMNESTY
AND MAKES YOUR NEIGHBOR
DIFFERENT SEE
BY THE LIGHT OF THAT FIR TREE
AND THIS OLD BAR
ELECTRIFIED IN BLUE
I GOTTA DROP DEAD SIMPLE
CHILDHOOD VIEW OF SALVATION
PERHAPS THATÕS HOW IT WAS
ALWAYS MEANT TO BE
AND THE MORE I ADD UP ALL
THIS INFORMATION
IT SEEMS IT ALL COMES DOWN IN
THE END TO YOU AND ME
SO YOU LOOK AROUND TILL YOU
FIND A PHONE
THEN YOU CALL YOUR MOM AND
EVERYONE AT HOME
AND THE BAR LOOKS ON AND THEY
START TO CHEER
WHEN YOU TALK TO FOLKS YOU
HAVENÕT SEEN IN YEARS
AND THE SNOW COMES DOWN
AND THE CHILDREN PLAY
AND THEY PRAY TO GOD
IT NEVER GOES AWAY
AND A CHILDHOOD PRAYER
SHOULD NEVER BE DENIED
AS THE NIGHT ROLLS ON
TILL ITÕS CAROLIZED
CAROLIZED
CAROLIZED
CAROLIZED
CAROLIZED
AND ON THIS TREE
THE LIGHTS ARE DONE
BUT THE COLORS HERE ARE DOWN
ONE
I GUESS IT KIND OF FITS THE
SITUATION
ORNAMENTS STILL SHINING BRIGHT
WATCH THEM GLITTER IN THE
LIGHT
JUST THIS OLD FIR TREE AND ME
ALL LIT UP THIS NIGHT
ELECTRIC BLUE
THEN A GUITARIST AND A
BASS PLAYER
READ SOME NOTES OFF A
MUSIC PAGE
AND ADDED A LITTLE BIT OF
JAZZ
A SOUND THAT NEVER SEEMS
TO AGE
(INSTRUMENTAL)
NOW THAT OLD PIANO PLAYER
KNEW
THERE WERE OTHER MUSICIANS
IN THAT CROWD
AND ONE BY ONE HE BROUGHT
THEM UP
AND THE MUSIC, IT GOT LOUD
CAROLIZE
UNDERSTAND
TURN IT UP
CHRISTMAS JAM
THE BAND PLAYED ON AND ON
WITH NO ONE LOOKING AT THEIR
WATCH
AND JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT
IT COULDNÕT GET ANY BETTER
THEY WOULD TURN IT UP A
NOTCH
(INSTRUMENTAL)
BY THIS TIME A HARDER
ROCKING STAGE
WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO
FIND
AND THOUGH NO ONE WAS NOW
DRINKING
THE OWNER DID NOT SEEM TO
MIND
AND THE ANGEL MARVELED HOW
ONE MAN
COULD TURN AROUND A LIFE
AND THEN THAT LIFE TURN
AROUND ANOTHERÕS
AND HOW IT RIPPLED THROUGH
THIS NIGHT
BUT THERE WAS SOMEONE IN
THAT ROOM
WHOSE HEART HAD NOT BEEN
CHANGED
A HEART THAT HAD GROWN SO
HARD
YOUÕD HAVE THOUGHT IT
COULD NEVER BE ARRANGED
IT WAS THE BUSINESSMAN
FROM DOWNTOWN
WHO HAD STOPPED THERE TO
REST HIS FEET
AND HE CLUNG TO HIS DRINK
(WHERE HE WATCHED HIS
THOUGHTS SINK)
WHILE ANY STRANGERS, HE
REFUSED TO GREET
YOU COULD SEE UPON HIS
FACE
HOW HAPPINESS HAD BEEN SO
LONG DEFERRED
IT WAS PRACTICALLY AS IF
UNHAPPINESS
HAD SOMEHOW BECOME
PREFERRED
NOW THE ANGEL HAD NOT SEEN
THE BUSINESSMAN
THOUGH THEY HAD IN THAT
ROOM BEEN NEAR
NOR DID THE ANGEL SEE HIM
AS HE LEFT THE BAR
WHEN HE COULD
NO LONGER STAND THIS CHRISTMAS CHEER
AND AS THE
BUSINESSMAN EXITED THE DOOR
HE HEARD
SOMEONE COMPLAINING ON THE TV
IT WAS THE
ÒGRINCHÓ RANTING AGAINST CHRISTMAS
AND THE MAN FOUND THAT HE
AGREED
WHAT IS
CHRISTMAS?
TINSELED FAIRYTALES
DAY OLD STOCKINGS LINED UP IN
A ROW
WHAT IS CHRISTMAS
COULD SOMEONE
TELL ME THAT?
WHAT IS
CHRISTMAS?
SURELY, I DON'T
KNOW
AND EVERYWHERE THESE LIGHTS
WHO NEEDS TO COLOR NIGHT?
COULD THIS WHOLE THING BE
PLANNED?
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND
THIS CHRISTMAS
TREES WITH COLORED LIGHTS
UNDERNEATH THEY STILL ARE
ONLY TREES
DO YOU THINK THAT ONE DAY
PERHAPS THEY MIGHT
FIND THAT CHRISTMAS
IS KIND OF A DISEASE?
EVERY YEAR IT'S WAITING FOR
ME
WAITING FOR ME
EVERY YEAR IT CONSTANTLY
DEFIES
PLACING STRANGERS
THERE BEFORE ME
THERE BEFORE ME
SPREADING HOPE AND CHEER
MIXED IN WITH HAPPINESS
FRATERNAL BLISS AND OTHER
CHRISTMAS LIES!
AND THERE'S ONE MORE THING
THAT I HAVE DISCOVERED
AND I WOULD NOW LIKE YOU TO
KNOW
THE REASON FOR CHRISTMAS I NOW REALIZE
IS AN EXCUSE TO TOLERATE SNOW
SNOW!
I DON'T EVEN LIKE THE SOUND
OF IT
ANYWAY, WHERE WAS I
OH, YES!
WHAT IS CHRISTMAS?
CANDLES EVERYWHERE
A FIRE HAZARD ANY OTHER DAY
CHILDREN LIGHT THEM
NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE
ALL FOR CHRISTMAS
EVERY YEAR IT RETURNS HERE
AND EVERY YEAR ITÕS WAITING
FOR ME
WHY CAN'T CHRISTMAS DISAPPEAR
AND JUST PRETEND IT NEVER SAW
ME
EVERY YEAR I GET MY HOPES UP
THAT IT WILL SOMEHOW JUST
LEAVE
BUT EVERY YEAR I WAKE TO FIND
THAT ONCE AGAIN IT NOW IS CHRISTMAS
EVE
AND THOUGH HIS TIME WAS
GROWING STRAINED
HE COULD NOT WALK AWAY FROM THIS SOUL IN PAIN
FOR IN THE DARK HE HAD NOW
SEEN
THE BLEEDING OF THIS WOUND EXTREME
SO ALONG THE SNOW COVERED
SIDEWALK
THE ANGEL DID CAREFULLY
STEP
FOLLOWING THE TRAIL OF
BLOOD DROPS
COMBINED WITH TEARS THAT HAD NEVER BEEN
WEPT
AND THEN HE SAW THE
BUSINESSMAN
WHO HAD BEEN GRUMBLING
ABOUT THIS NIGHT
AND HE WONDERED HOW THAT
MAN HAD CARRIED THIS WOUND
SO LONG THROUGHOUT HIS
LIFE
HE WATCHED THE MAN WALK
PAST THE CHURCH
WHERE A SONG SEEMED TO
REACH OUT FOR HIM
BUT THE MAN JUST WALKED
RIGHT PAST IT
AND WOULD NOT LET IT IN
IN A STABLE
IN A MANGER
IN THE COLD WINTERÕS AIR
IN THE ARMS OF HIS MOTHER
A CHILDÕS LYING
THERE
IN A CITY
IN A VILLAGE
THOUGH THE YEARS
HAVE GONE BY
THE CHILD STILL
REMAINS
WITH THE DREAM
STILL CLOSE BY
AND EACH YEAR ON
THIS NIGHT THAT CHILD REAWAKENS
AND EACH YEAR ON
THIS NIGHT THAT HOPE REBEGINS
THAT THE DREAM HE
HAS OFFERED MIGHT ONE DAY BE TAKEN
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR BROTHER
FOR THE
CHILD WHOÕS FORGOTTEN
FOR THE DREAM THAT IS STILL
LYING THERE
OÕ COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
JOYFUL AND TRIUMPHANT
OÕ COME YE, OÕ COME YE
TO BETHLEHEM
COME AND ADORE HIM
BORN THE KING OF
ANGELS
OÕ COME LET US
ADORE HIM
OÕ COME LET US
ADORE HIM
OÕ COME LET US
ADORE HIM
CHRIST THE LORD
IN A STABLE
IN A MANGER
IN THE COLD WINTERÕS AIR
IN THE ARMS OF HIS MOTHER A CHILDÕS LYING
THERE
NOW WHY THIS MANÕS SOUL
WAS BLEEDING
THE ANGEL HAD TO
UNDERSTAND
SO INVISIBLE, HE STOOD BY
HIM
AND THEN GENTLY TOUCHED
HIS HAND
WHICH CAUSED THE MAN TO STAND THERE STILL
DESPITE THE WINTERÕS COLD
AND WHILE HE STOOD THERE
IN THAT TRANCE
THE ANGEL READ HIS SOUL
IT SEEMED THE MAN WAS NOT
ALWAYS LIKE
THE MAN HE HAD BECOME
AND THAT ANGEL WONDERED
HOW THAT CHANGE HAD HAPPENED
AND WHEN IT HAD BEGUN
THE MAN HAD BEEN BORN TO A KIND AND RELIGIOUS FAMILY
AND RAISED IN
THE MIDWEST
AND ALL THROUGHOUT HIS CHILDHOOD
THIS MAN,
CLEARLY, HAD BEEN BLESSED
HE GREW UP BELIEVING,
AMONG OTHER THINGS
MAN WAS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
HE WENT TO SCHOOL,
OBSERVED ALL RULES
WHILE WORKING VERY HARD
HE HAD ALWAYS TRIED TO HELP
OTHERS
EXCELLED AT NEARLY EVERY
TASK
AND WHEN HEÕD GRADUATED
HIGH SCHOOL
OF COURSE, HE WAS THE
FIRST ONE IN HIS CLASS
AND IN HIS EIGHTEENTH
SUMMER
WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR HIM
TO LEAVE
HE HAD OFFERS FROM SEVERAL
COLLEGES
ALL OF THEM IVY LEAGUE
AND AT COLLEGE IN ALL HIS
STUDIES
HE ALWAYS RECEIVED
STRAIGHT ÒAÓs
AND WHEN HE TRIED HIS HAND
IN THEATER
HE GOT THE LEAD IN THE
SENIOR PLAY
IT APPEARED TO NEARLY
EVERYONE
THERE WAS NO TALENT THAT
HE LACKED
AND FOR THREE YEARS ON THE
FOOTBALL TEAM
HE WAS, THE STAR QUARTERBACK
AND THERE HE ALSO MET THE
GIRL
WHO DID BECOME HIS WIFE
WITH HER, HIS WORLD WAS
NOW COMPLETE
HE HAD THE PERFECT LIFE
WHEN THEY HAD GRADUATED
COLLEGE
THEY WERE WED IN A
CEREMONY QUITE GRAND
THEN THEY MOVED TO NEW YORK
IN A DREAM THEY SEEMED CAUGHT
WHERE ALL HAD
BEEN PERFECTLY PLANNED
SHE DECORATED
THEIR PARK AVENUE APARTMENT
IN A 1920ÕS
ART-DECO STYLE
AND SIX MONTHS AFTER THEY
HAD MOVED IN
SHE TOLD HIM, THEY WOULD
SOON BE HAVING A CHILD
AND AFTER THEIR FIRST
ULTRASOUND
HE KNEW THEY WERE HAVING A
SON
THEIR LIVES COULD NOT HAVE
BEEN BETTER
AND THEY HAD ONLY JUST
BEGUN
TOGETHER THEY ARRIVED
EARLY AT THE HOSPITAL
ON THE DELIVERY DATE
THE FATHER WAS TAKING NO
CHANCES
AND DID NOT WANT TO RISK
BEING LATE
BUT WHILE WAITING OUTSIDE
THE DELIVERY ROOM
HE COULD TELL THAT
SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG
FOR TOO MANY DOCTORS WERE
RUSHING IN
WITH NONE COMING OUT FOR
TOO LONG
WHEN HER OWN DOCTOR
FINALLY CAME OUT
WITH SEVERAL NURSES AT HIS
SIDE
HE SAID THAT HIS WIFE HAD
STARTED HEMORRHAGING
AND DESPITE THEIR BEST EFFORTS,
SHE DIED
THEN IN AN EFFORT TO
CONSOLE HIM
A NURSE GAVE HIM HIS
NEWBORN TO HOLD
BUT FROM THE WAY THE CHILD
FELT LIMP IN HIS ARMS
HE KNEW THERE WAS STILL
MORE BAD NEWS TO BE TOLD
THE DOCTOR THEN GAVE THE
PROGNOSIS
AS GENTLY AS ANYONE COULD
BUT BEFORE HE COULD FINISH EXPLAINING
THE FATHER ONLY TOO WELL
UNDERSTOOD
THE CHILD HAD BEEN CUT OFF
FROM OXYGEN
FOR MINUTES, WHICH IS FAR
TOO LONG
THE DAMAGE WAS NOW
IRREVERSIBLE
HIS BRAIN PERMANENTLY
MALFORMED
HEÕD NEVER HOLD A JOB,
LEARN TO READ OR EVER TALK
AND IT WOULD BE A MIRACLE
IF THE CHILD EVEN LEARNED
HOW TO WALK
AND WITH THOSE WORDS THE
FATHER FELT
HIS ENTIRE WORLD FALLING
APART
AND HE STUMBLED FOR THE
WORDS TO EXPRESS
THE TEARING INSIDE OF HIS
HEART
HE CRIED OUT, WHY DID GOD HAVE TO TAKE HER
WHILE SHE WAS
STILL SO YOUNG
AND THEN AS IF
TO CUT HIM DEEPER
LEAVE THIS
THING HERE AS HIS SON
ÒPLEASE
EXPLAIN TO ME GODÕS WISDOM
HOW COULD HE
DECIDE
TO TAKE FROM ME MY
PRECIOUS WIFE
WHILE LEAVING THIS ALIVE
THERE IS NO REASON FOR
THIS LIFE
WHY DOES HE EVEN EXIST
AND IF HE HAD NEVER BEEN
BORN
THERE IS NO WAY HEÕD HAVE
EVER BEEN MISSED
IF
MAN IS MADE IN GODÕS IMAGE
THEN SOMETHING HERE IS SURELY AMISS
FOR THERE IS NOTHING OF
GOD
NOTHING OF GOD
NOTHING OF GOD
NOTHING OF GOD
NOTHING OF GOD IN THISÓ
AND THEN HE ASKED FOR THE
CHILD
TO BE PLACED IN A STATE
RUN HOME
AND AFTER HE HAD SIGNED
THE PAPERS
HE WALKED INTO THAT NIGHT
ALONE
AND IN THIS WORLD HE FOUND
UNKIND
HE BUILT A WALL AROUND HIS
MIND
AND EVERY YEAR HEÕD ADD
NEW PARTS
UNTIL IT HAD ALSO ENCLOSED
HIS HEART
HE KEPT HIS JOB AND PAID
HIS DEBTS
AS HE SLOWLY BECAME A
SILHOUETTE
OF A MAN WALKING AMONG THE
TOMBS
WHILE LIVING HIS LIFE
WITHIN HIS WOUNDS
HE DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM
ALL HIS FRIENDS
EVEN HIS SISTERS AND
BROTHERS
AND AS TIME IT WENT BY, HE
DEVELOPED HIS EYES
SO THEY COULD ONLY SEE THE
FLAWS IN OTHERS
WITH THIS FINAL GLIMPSE,
THE ANGEL STEPPED AWAY
AND THE MAN SHOOK HIMSELF
OUT OF HIS TRANCE
THEN CONTINUED HIS WALK
BACK TOWARDS HIS HOME
AND FEW WOULD HAVE GIVEN
HIS SOUL HALF OF A CHANCE
AND THE ANGEL HIMSELF FELT
HELPLESS
AS HE WATCHED THAT OLD MAN
THERE
SO HE DID WHAT EVEN HUMANS
DO
AND HE QUICKLY SAID A
PRAYER
AND AS THE PRAYER FLEW TO HIS LORD
THE ANGEL DID DECIDE
TO CAREFULLY FOLLOW THE
OLD MAN
AND STAY CLOSELY BY HIS
SIDE
FOR ON THIS NIGHT CAN ONE DENY
THE GIFT OF A MORE
SYMPATHETIC EYE
TO CAST UPON OUR FELLOW
MAN
AND ON THIS NIGHT TO
UNDERSTAND
THE FRAILTY OF CHILDHOOD
DREAMS
LIKE FIREFLIES OVER SUMMER
STREAMS
AND IF ONE DARED TO REMOVE
TIMEÕS VEIL
COULD ONE RETRACE THOSE
CHILDHOOD TRAILS?
BUT WHISPERS IN THE
WINTERÕS WIND
TOLD OF RESCUED DREAMS, FORGIVEN SINS
AND WHO AMONG US SHALL BE
DEEMED
TO RESCUE SOME FORGOTTEN
DREAM?
SO ON THIS NIGHT OF
CHRISTMAS EVE
AS ONCE AGAIN THE SPIRITS
WEAVE
ITS SNOWSWEPT DREAMS AND
COLORED LIGHTS
WITH BITS OF MAGIC INTO
EACH LIFE
AND AS THE SNOW COMES GENTLY DOWN
ITS SOUL INTENT TO REACH
THE GROUND
TO COVER SCARS THE WORLD
STILL FEELS
PERHAPS TO GIVE THEM TIME
TO HEAL
FOR AS MEN INVEST IN MONEY
AND PROFESSORS IN WHAT
THEY KNOW
GOD INVESTS IN MERCY
LIKE WINTER INVESTS IN
SNOW
(INSTRUMENTAL)
NOW THE OLD MAN WAS
NEARING A TOY SHOP
WHERE HE COULD HEAR A
MUSIC BOX KIND OF SOUND
FROM A MINIATURE CAROUSEL
WITH ITS MINIATURE HORSES
ALL CIRCLING FAITHFULLY
AROUND
AND A LITTLE GIRL WEARING A RUSSIAN STYLED COAT
WAS CAREFULLY LOOKING INSIDE
AT THE HORSES AND KNIGHTS
AND THE TRAINS WITH THEIR LIGHTS
WHILE SHE WAS IMAGINING
THEY ALL WERE ALIVE
FOR AT THIS TIME A CHILD
WILL DARE
TO SEE WHAT IS PERHAPS NOT
THERE
OR AT LEAST NOT THERE TO
ADULT EYES
WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO
FANTASIZE
(INSTRUMENTAL)
NOW THAT YOUNG GIRL,
OUTSIDE THE STORE
WAS TRYING TO CAPTURE
SNOWÕS MAGIC
BUT EACH FLAKE MELTED AT
HER TOUCH
WHICH HER YOUNG MIND FOUND
QUITE TRAGIC
AND WHILE CHASING AN
ELUSIVE SNOWFLAKE
THAT WAS DETERMINED TO
REACH THE GROUND
SHE BUMPED INTO THE
BUSINESSMAN PASSING BY
AND NEARLY KNOCKED HIM
DOWN
AND THINKING SHE WAS IN
TROUBLE
THE CHILD QUICKLY
APOLOGIZED
BUT THE MAN WAS NOT
ACCEPTING IT
SHE COULD SEE IT IN HIS
EYES
SHE EXPLAINED SHE HAD BEEN LOOKING IN THE TOY SHOP
THAT TOMORROW
WOULD BE CHRISTMAS DAY
BUT THE MAN MUTTERED WORDS
SHE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND
SO SHE SEARCHED FOR
SOMETHING ELSE SHE COULD SAY
ÒDO YOU HAVE ANY
CHILDREN?Ó THE CHILD ASKED THE MAN
ÒNO,Ó WAS HIS INSTANT REPLY
AND THOUGH HE SAID IT IN
HIS FIRMEST VOICE
IN HIS HEART HE KNEW HE
HAD LIED
THE GIRL WAS GETTING ON HIS NERVES
WHICH WERE ALREADY SHOT
SOMETHING ABOUT HER BOTHERED HIM
BUT HE COULD NOT SAY QUITE
WHAT
THEN HE NOTICED THE TIME WAS APPROACHING MIDNIGHT
WHAT WAS SHE DOING ON THE
STREET?
WHEN HE ASKED THE GIRL
THIS QUESTION
THE CHILD SEEMED TO
RETREAT
SHE SAID SHE WAS STAYING
WITH HER PARENTS
AT THE HOTEL, RIGHT NEXT
DOOR
THEY WERE THERE FOR JUST
THIS ONE NIGHT
IN ROOM TWELVE TWENTY-FOUR
THEN HE SAID, ÒYOU BEST
GET BACK THERE
AS QUICK AS
YOU CAN FLY!Ó
AND HE WATCHED AS SHE RAN ALL THE WAY
UNTIL SHE WAS SAFELY BACK
INSIDE
THEN HE TOOK SEVERAL STEPS
IN THE DIRECTION TOWARDS
HIS HOME
BUT THEN HE HESITATED
AND TOOK OUT HIS MOBILE
PHONE
AND CALLED UP THE INSTITUTION
WHERE HE HAD LEFT HIS SON
TO FIND OUT IF HE WAS
STILL THERE AND ALIVE
WONDERING IF THE PAST
COULD BE UNDONE
THE OPERATOR WHO ANSWERED, SEARCHED THE COMPUTER
TO SEE IF THE CHILD HAD
SURVIVED
AND SHE WAS SINCERELY
HAPPY TO TELL HIM
ÒYOUR SON IS NO LONGER
HERE, BUT HE IS STILL ALIVE!Ó
THEN THE LADY WHO WAS VERY
KIND
SAID, ÒIF YOU HAVE A SHORT
WHILE
I CAN GIVE YOU ALL THE
INFORMATION
THAT IS HERE INSIDE HIS
FILE
I SEE THAT AT THE AGE OF
TWELVE
HE HAD FINALLY LEARNED TO
WALK
AND COULD UNDERSTAND MOST
THINGS PEOPLE SAID
BUT HAS NEVER LEARNED TO
TALK
HEÕS LIVING UPTOWN IN THE
BRONX
AT A BOARDING HOUSE HOTELÓ
AND THEN THE LADY GAVE HIM
THE PHONE NUMBER
AND HOTELÕS ADDRESS AS
WELL
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
MANY YEARS
THE MAN THOUGHT ABOUT HIS LIFE
AND ALL THE THINGS HE HAD
LEFT BEHIND
AND, OF COURSE, HE THOUGHT ABOUT HIS WIFE
AND HE WONDERED IF SHE HAD
LIVED
THE THINGS THEY MIGHT HAVE
DONE
BUT REALLY MOST OF ALL RIGHT NOW
HE THOUGHT ABOUT HIS SON
TIME
STANDING ALL ALONE
I BLED FOR YOU
I WANTED TO
EACH DROP MY OWN
SLOWLY THEY DEPART
BUT FALL IN VAIN
LIKE DESERT RAIN
AND STILL THEY FALL ON AND ON
AND ON
GOT TO GET BACK TO A REASON
GOT TO GET BACK TO A REASON I
ONCE KNEW
AND THIS LATE IN THE SEASONS
ONE BY ONE DISTRACTIONS FADE
FROM VIEW
SO
DRIFTING THROUGH THE DARK
THE SYMPATHY
OF NIGHT'S MERCY
INSIDE MY HEART
IS YOUR LIFE THE SAME?
DO GHOSTS CRY
TEARS?
DO THEY FEEL
YEARS?
AS TIME JUST GOES ON AND ON
AND ON
GOT TO GET BACK TO A REASON
GOT TO GET BACK TO A REASON I
ONCE KNEW
AND THIS LATE IN THE SEASONS
ONE BY ONE DISTRACTIONS FADE
FROM VIEW
IÕM LOOKING FOR YOU
IÕM LOOKING FOR I DONÕT KNOW
WHAT
I CANÕT SEE THERE ANYMORE
AND ALL MY TIMEÕS BEEN TAKEN
IS THIS WHAT IT SEEMS?
THE LURE OF A DREAM
AND IÕM AFRAID TO WALK BACK
THROUGH THAT DOOR
TO FIND THAT IÕVE AWAKENED
THE NIGHT SEEMS TO CARE
THE DREAMS IN THE AIR
THE SNOWÕS COMING DOWN
IT BECKONS ME DARE
IT WHISPERS, IT HOPES
IT HOLDS AND CONFIDES
AND OFFERS A BRIDGE
ACROSS THESE DIVIDES
THE PARTS OF MY LIFE
IÕVE TRIED TO FORGET
ITÕS GATHERED EACH PIECE
AND CAREFULLY KEPT
SOMEWHERE IN THE DARK
BEYOND ALL THE COLD
THERE IS A CHILD
THATÕS PART OF MY SOUL
GOT TO GET BACK TO A REASON
GOT TO GET BACK TO A REASON I
ONCE KNEW
AND THIS LATE IN THE SEASONS
ONE BY ONE DISTRACTIONS FADE
FROM VIEW
THE ONLY REASON I HAVE LEFT
IS
YOU
IF HE WENT THERE AND SAW
HIS SON
WHAT WORDS COULD HE
POSSIBLY SAY
WOULD HIS OWN CHILD
RECOGNIZE HIM
AND IF HE DID, WOULD HE
TURN AWAY?
DARE HE REKINDLE THIS HOPE
PERHAPS TO ONLY WATCH IT DIE
AND STANDING THERE IN THIS MANÕS PLACE
I WONDER,
WOULD YOU OR I?
NOW THE ANGEL KNEW IF
ENOUGH TIME PASSES BY
ANY HOPE CAN BE SMOTHERED
SO BEFORE IT WAS DEAD, TO
THE FIRST PRAYER HE HAD SAID
THE ANGEL QUICKLY ADDED
ANOTHER
(INSTRUMENTAL)
THE OLD MAN STOOD THERE
THINKING
WHILE STARING IN THAT OLD
TOY SHOP
WITH ITS CAROUSEL STILL
TURNING ROUND
IN FRONT OF A MUSIC BOX
CLOCK
FOR WHAT GOODÕS A CLOCK
WITHOUT A CHIME
A USELESS THING THAT JUST
KEEPS TIME
RECORDING MOMENTS THAT
COME AND LEAVE
BUT THIS CLOCKÕS CHIMES
STRUCK MIDNIGHT
UPON A LOST CHRISTMAS EVE
AND WHEN THE FINAL CHIME
HAD SPOKEN
AND THE TWELFTH BELL HAD
FINALLY RUNG
THE INDECISION IN THE
FATHER WAS BROKEN
HE NOW KNEW WHAT HAD TO BE
DONE
SO HE GOT INTO A YELLOW
CAB
AND PRAYED THAT IT MIGHT
LEAD
THROUGH ALL THIS SNOW AND
STREETLIGHT GLOW
TO A PAST HE MIGHT
RETRIEVE
WHEN THE TAXI DROPPED HIM
OFF
AT THE BOARDING HOUSE
HOTEL
IT WAS A RUNDOWN BUILDING
WITH A MUSTY, RUNDOWN
SMELL
AND HE ASKED FOR HIS SON
FROM THE HOTELÕS NIGHT
DESK CLERK
WHO SAID HIS SON WAS NOT
THERE
HE WAS NOT BACK FROM WORK
WHEN THE FATHER SAID THAT
WAS IMPOSSIBLE
THE CLERK REPLIED, ÒIÕM
NOT HERE TO DEBATE
BUT HE WORKS AT THE
HOSPITAL, JUST DOWN THE BLOCK
IF YOU WANT YOU CAN SIT
HERE AND WAIT
BUT HE NEVER RETURNS TILL
REAL LATEÓ
THEN THE FATHER TRIED
ASKING ANOTHER QUESTION
BUT THE CLERK WENT BACK TO
WATCHING HIS TV
WHICH WAS ALSO PLAYING,
ÒHOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMASÓ
AND THE FATHER MUSED,
ÒTHIS MOVIE HAS NO SYMPATHY,
WELL, AT LEAST NOT WHEN IT
COMES DOWN TO MEÓ
ONCE OUTSIDE HE SAW THE
HOSPITALÕS ENTRANCE
AND WENT TO INFORMATION BY THE FRONT DOOR
WHO CONFIRMED THAT HIS SON
HAD A JOB THERE
AND WORKED UP ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR
SO HE TOOK THE ELEVATOR UP TO THAT FLOOR
WHICH WAS MARKED ÒMATERNITYÓ
AND THE MAN KNEW IN HIS
HEART THAT THIS WAS A MISTAKE
FOR HIS SON WORKING HERE
COULD NOT BE
BUT THE NURSE ON DUTY
RECONFIRMED THAT HE DID
AND SINCE HER ROUNDS WERE
ABOUT TO BEGIN
IF HE WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW
HER
SHE WOULD GLADLY TAKE THE
FATHER TO HIM
SO HE FOLLOWED HER TO A
LARGE DARK ROOM
THAT TO HIM SEEMED
UNUSUALLY EMPTY
EXCEPT FOR SEVERAL
INCUBATORS GLOWING ON THE RIGHT
EACH WITH A TREMBLING BABY
THESE INFANTS WERE ALL
EXTREMELY FRAIL
AND OBVIOUSLY IN
INCREDIBLE PAIN
AND THIS SIGHT CUT DEEP
INTO THAT FATHERÕS SOUL
AND HE ASKED THE NURSE,
PLEASE, TO EXPLAIN
ÒTHESE CHILDREN WERE BORN
TO MOTHERS
WHO WERE ADDICTED TO CRACK
COCAINE
AND THESE CHILDREN ARE
BORN IN COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL
FOR THAT DRUG IS STILL
DEEP IN THEIR VEINS
WE CAN GIVE THEM NO OTHER
DRUGS TO EASE THEIR WITHDRAWALS
SINCE THEY ARE BORN
PREMATURE AND QUITE FRAIL
AND ANY FORM OF PAIN
KILLER
COULD EASILY CAUSE THEIR
SMALL HEARTS TO FAILÓ
ÒAND WHAT DOES MY SON DO
HERE?Ó
THE FATHER ASKED, ÒHE IS
NOT A PATIENT, I ASSUMEÓ
THE NURSE DID NOT SAY A
SINGLE WORD
BUT NODDED TO THE FAR LEFT
CORNER OF THE ROOM
AND THERE THE FATHER SAW
HIS SON
WHO LOOKED LIKE HIMSELF
WHEN HE WAS A YOUNGER MAN
ROCKING BACK AND FORTH IN
A ROCKING CHAIR
A TREMBLING INFANT HELD IN HIS HANDS
AND IN HIS ARMS THE CHILD
DID NOT CRY
BUT SLEPT TO SILENT
LULLABIES
AND HIS SON ROCKED THAT
NEWBORN BACK AND FORTH
UNTIL FINALLY, A DREAM WAS
CAUGHT
BUT STILL AT HIS ROCKING,
HIS SON FAITHFULLY KEPT
TILL THAT POOR CHILDÕS
TREMBLING HAD ALSO, FINALLY, LEFT
THEN THE NURSE WHISPERED
SOFTLY
INTO THE FATHERÕS EAR
SOMETHING THAT A BLIND MAN
COULD SEE
BUT THE FATHER NEEDED TO
HEAR
WHISPERED TO HIM IN THIS
ROOM
FILLED WITH MANKINDÕS
MISBEGOTTEN
SOMETHING THAT THE FATHER
HAD KNOWN ONCE
BUT SOMEHOW HAD FORGOTTEN
SHE SAID, ÒIT IS THIS WAY
WITH EACH OF US
WE ALL NEED TO BE HELD, AT
LEAST TWICE
ONCE UPON THE DAY THAT WE
ARE BORN
AND ONCE MORE WHEN WE
LEAVE THIS LIFE
YOUR SON HAS BEEN COMING
TO THIS PLACE
SINCE AS LONG AS IÕVE BEEN
WORKING HERE
HEÕS NEVER MISSED A SINGLE
DAY
IN NEARLY TWENTY YEARS
HE ALWAYS ARRIVES PROMPTLY
ON TIME
BUT A TIME CARD HE DOES
NOT KEEP
FOR HE NEVER LEAVES THIS
MATERNITY ROOM
UNTIL EVERY LAST CHILD IS
ASLEEPÓ
THEN THE NURSE NOTICED THE
FATHER
TRYING TO CHOKE BACK THE
THINGS HE NOW FELT
SO MENTIONING SHE HAD TO
CONTINUE HER ROUNDS
SHE QUIETLY EXCUSED
HERSELF
SO HE WAS NOW ALONE IN THE
DARKNESS
BETWEEN THE PAST AND
FUTURE CAUGHT
NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO
AS HIS MIND FLOODED WITH
SO MANY THOUGHTS
SOME BEAUTY COMES TOO
EARLY
WHILE ITS MOMENT NEVER
WAITS
AND SOME BEAUTY IS ALWAYS
THERE
BUT NEVER SEEN, TILL ITÕS
TOO LATE
LOOK! THERE IS A MOMENT
IT HAS JUST SLIPPED AWAY
AND SO WE LOSE OUR LIVES
IN SUCH ORDINARY WAYS
WHERE DO WE GET OUR DREAMS
FROM?
WHERE DO WE GET OUR FAITH?
IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE
ARE BORN WITH
OR IS IT SOMETHING FOR
WHICH WE MUST WAIT?
THE MIST OF THINGS WE ONCE
BELIEVED
THE CHILDHOOD TRUTHS FOR
WHICH WE GRIEVE
AND IN OUR LIVES COULD WE HAVE MISSED
THOSE THAT IN THE DARK,
THE ANGELS KISS
WHAT CHILD IS
THIS
WHO LAID TO REST
THAT I NOW FIND
HERE SLEEPING?
DO ANGELS KEEP
THE DREAMS WE SEEK
WHILE OUR HEARTS
LIE BLEEDING?
COULD THIS BE CHRIST THE KING
WHOSE EVERY
BREATH THE ANGELS BRING?
COULD THIS BE THE
FACE OF GOD, THIS CHILD, THE SON I ONCE CARRIED?
WHAT CHILD IS
THIS
WHO IS SO BLESSED
HE CHANGES ALL TOMORROWS?
REPLACING TEARS
WITH REBORN YEARS
IN HEARTS ONCE
DARK AND HOLLOW
COULD THIS BE
CHRIST THE KING
WHOSE EVERY BREATH THE ANGELS
BRING?
COULD THIS BE THE FACE OF
GOD, THIS CHILD, THE SON I ONCE CARRIED?
IN THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT
AS HIS LIFE SLIPS AWAY
AS HE READS BY THE LIGHT
OF A STAR FARAWAY
HOLDING ON
HOLDING OFF
HOLDING OUT
HOLDING IN
COULD YOU BE THIS OLD
AND HAVE YOUR LIFE JUST BEGIN?
READING BY THE LIGHT OF A
LOST CHRISTMAS DAY
IT BEGINS
READING BY THE LIGHT OF A
LOST CHRISTMAS DAY
TELL ME HOW MANY TIMES CAN
THIS STORY BE TOLD
AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS IT
SHOULD ALL SOUND SO OLD
BUT IT SOMEHOW RINGS TRUE IN
THE BACK OF MY MIND
AS I SEARCH FOR A DREAM THAT
WORDS CAN NO LONGER DEFINE
READING BY THE LIGHT OF A
LOST CHRISTMAS DAY
AND THE TIME
READING BY THE LIGHT OF A
LOST CHRISTMAS DAY
AND THE TIME AND THE YEARS
AND THE TEARS AND THE COST
AND THE HOPES AND THE DREAMS
OF EACH CHILD THAT IS LOST
AND THE WHISPER OF WINGS
IN THE COLD WINTERÕS AIR
AS THE SNOW IT COMES DOWN
AND VISIONS APPEAR EVERYWHERE
READING BY THE LIGHT OF A
LOST CHRISTMAS DAY
IN THE AIR
READING BY THE LIGHT OF A
LOST CHRISTMAS DAY
IN THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT
AS HIS LIFE SLIPS AWAY
AS HE READS BY THE LIGHT
OF A STAR FARAWAY
HOLDING ON
HOLDING OFF
HOLDING OUT
HOLDING IN
COULD YOU BE THIS OLD
AND HAVE YOUR LIFE JUST BEGIN
READING BY THE LIGHT OF A
LOST CHRISTMAS DAY
IT BEGINS
READING BY THE LIGHT OF A
LOST CHRISTMAS DAY
IT BEGINS
READING BY THE LIGHT OF A
LOST CHRISTMAS DAY
IT BEGINS
READING BY THE LIGHT OF A
LOST CHRISTMAS DAY
IT BEGINS
LOOKING AT HIS SON ACROSS
THE ROOM
HE FEARED TO CROSS THAT
DIVIDE
BUT HOW LONG COULD HE STAY
IN THIS DARK
THAT ALLOWS US ALL TO HIDE
IS THERE A WRONG SO GREAT IN LIFE
THAT IT UNDOES EVERY GOOD
WEÕVE EVER DONE
IS THERE AN ACT SO GOOD IT WOULD UNDO ALL OUR WRONGS
EVERY SINGLE ONE?
AND IN PUTTING HIS WHOLE
LIFE INTO THIS GESTURE
WOULD FAILING MAKE IT
ANY LESSER?
THEN THROUGH THE WINDOW HE
THOUGHT HE SAW
IN THE FALLING SNOW SO
NEAR
THE OUTLINE OF HIS SONÕS MOTHERÕS FACE
BUT THEN IT DISAPPEARED
IT WAS ONLY THERE FOR A
SECOND
AND A SECONDÕS NOT LONG,
BUT YET
IT WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE
THAT MAN
TO TAKE THAT VERY FIRST
STEP
AND THAT STEP WAS FOLLOWED
BY ANOTHER
IN THAT ROOM STILL LIT SO
DIM
AND BEFORE HE REALIZED HOW
FAR HE HAD GONE
HIS SON WAS DIRECTLY IN
FRONT OF HIM
THEN THE FATHER NOTICED ON
THE WINDOWSILL
AN OLD PHOTO THAT HE LONG
AGO HAD SEEN
IT WAS A PICTURE OF HIM AND HIS WIFE
WHEN THEY WERE BOTH ABOUT NINETEEN
IT WAS LEANING AGAINST A
FOLDER
THAT SAID ÒPROPERTY OF THE DECEASEDÓ
AND UNDERNEATH WAS HIS WIFEÕS NAME
AND THE DATE IT HAD BEEN
RELEASED
IT WAS OBVIOUSLY HER
PERSONAL POSSESSIONS
THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO HIS
SON
BECAUSE SINCE HE HAD LEFT
THEM ALL BEHIND
THE CHILD WAS THE ONLY ONE
HIS SON MUST HAVE ALWAYS
KEPT IT WITH HIM
FOR THE FOLDER WAS
WEATHERED AND TORN
AND HE MUST HAVE GAZED AT
THAT PICTURE COUNTLESS TIMES
FOR IT WAS ALSO ALL
TATTERED AND WORN
THEN HIS SON NOTICED HIM
STANDING THERE
AND FROM HIS TASK LOOKED
UP
AND THEN LOOKED AT THE
PICTURE BESIDE HIM
AND THAT ONE LOOK, WAS ENOUGH
HE RECOGNIZED IT WAS HIS
FATHER
THAT WAS NOW STANDING
THERE
AND GAVE HIM A SMILE OF
PURE LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
AND OF THE PAST, HE DID
NOT CARE
HE DID NOT CARE WHERE HE
HAD BEEN
THE WHYS, THE WHERES, THE
HOWS
HE ONLY CARED THAT HIS
FATHER WAS THERE
STANDING BY HIM NOW
THEN THE FATHER TURNED AND
WALKED ACROSS THE ROOM
WHICH BY NOW HAD LOST ITS
DISTANCE
AND WENT TO THE NEAREST
INCUBATOR
AND PICKED UP A TREMBLING
INFANT
AND WITH THE CHILD WITHIN
HIS ARMS
HE RETURNED TO HIS SON
AND ALL THE PAIN WITHIN HIS
SOUL
AT THAT MOMENT WAS UNDONE
AND HE SAT IN THE ROCKING
CHAIR BESIDE HIM
WITH THE LIFE HE HAD
RETRIEVED
AND SIDE-BY-SIDE TOGETHER
THEY ROCKED ALL THROUGH
THAT CHRISTMAS EVE
(INSTRUMENTAL)
NOW ALL THAT HAD OCCURRED
HERE THIS NIGHT
THE ANGEL HAD CLEARLY SEEN
NOT UNLIKE AN OLD
FASHIONED MOVIE
UPON A SILVERED SCREEN
THAT BORDERS ON THE EDGE
OF A
FORGOTTEN CHILDHOOD DREAM
AND FROM ALL THAT HE HAD
WITNESSED
HE THOUGHT HIS ANSWER HE
HAD FOUND
AND ONCE MORE UNFOLDED HIS
WINGS
AND LEFT EARTHÕS SOLID
GROUND
WITH EVERY SWEEP OF THOSE
WINGS
ACROSS TIME AND SPACE HE
SOARED
UNTIL HE FOUND HIMSELF
STANDING
BACK IN HEAVEN, BEFORE HIS LORD
AND HE TOLD
HIS LORD THE NAME OF THE FATHERÕS SON
BUT THEN HE
HESITATED
LIKE A CHILD
IN SCHOOL UNSURE OF HIS ANSWER
BUT THE LORD,
HE PATIENTLY WAITED
THEN THE ANGEL
ADDED THE NAMES
OF THE
PARISHIONERS AT THE CHURCH
THE MUSICIANS, THE STORYTELLER
THE OPERATOR
AND THE HOSPITAL NURSE
EVENTUALLY
THERE WAS HARDLY A PERSON
THAT THE ANGEL
HAD MISSED
AND THEN AT
THE VERY END HE PLACED
THE FATHERÕS
NAME, ALSO ON THAT LIST
THAT ANYONE
COULD REFLECT HIS LORDÕS SON
WAS NOW THE
ANGELÕS VIEW
ALL IT TOOK
WAS TO FOLLOW THE SIMPLE WORDÕS OF HIS SON
ÒTO DO UNTO OTHERS, AS YOU
WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO YOUÓ
THEN THE LORD SMILED AT HIS ANGEL
AND SAID, ÒYOU HAVE DONE
MORE THAN YOUR TASK
ITÕS A GIFT THAT EYES RARELY HAVE
THAT CAN SEE FURTHER THAN THEY ARE ASKED.Ó
AND SO THIS
NIGHT IS ENDING
SO CLOSE TO WHERE IT DID START
AS THE ANGEL SLEPT DEEP THAT NIGHT
WITHIN HIS
LORDÕS OWN HEART
FOR HOPE NEVER DIES
AT WORST IT ONLY SLEEPS
AND ALL WE SURRENDER
CHRISTMAS SAFELY KEEPS
THROUGH THE COLD WINTER
NIGHTS
OF THE LONGEST DECEMBERS
TILL HERE BY STARLIGHT
WE BEGIN TO REMEMBER
THAT IN THE VERY END
THE MESSAGE CHRISTMAS IS
SENDING
IS THAT IT IS NEVER TOO
LATE
TO CHANGE ANY LIFEÕS
ENDING
SO CHRISTMAS EVE HAD COME
AND PAST
BUT NOT SO CHRISTMAS DAY
AND THUS IT IS, WE ADD A FINAL ACT
ONTO OUR YEARLY PLAY
A TAXICAB PULLED UP TO THE GRAND HOTEL,
THAT MORNING SOMEWHERE
AROUND EIGHT
AND THE FATHER WITH HIS
SON GOT OUT
AND ASKED THE DRIVER, TO
PLEASE WAIT
THEN THE FATHER ASKED THE CLERK IF HE COULD SPEAK
TO THE COUPLE IN ROOM
TWELVE TWENTY-FOUR
ADDING HE DID NOT KNOW THE
COUPLEÕS NAME
BUT HAD MET THEIR CHILD
THE NIGHT BEFORE
THE CLERK ANSWERED MOST
POLITELY
THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO
FULFILL HIS WISH
BUT THE ROOM NUMBER TWELVE
TWENTY-FOUR
IN THIS HOTEL, DID NOT
EXIST
THE FATHER THEN DESCRIBED
THE LITTLE GIRL
HER AGE AND DRESS AS WELL
BUT THE CLERK SAID THERE
HAD BEEN NO CHILDREN THERE AT ALL THAT WEEK
WAS HE SURE HE HAD THE
RIGHT HOTEL?
SO THE FATHER STARTED
WONDERING
IF IN THE COLD WINTERÕS
AIR
HE HAD SOMEHOW IMAGINED
THE ENTIRE EVENT
BUT THEN HE REALIZED, HE
DIDNÕT CARE
THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERED
WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE
WAS THAT HE WAS REUNITED
WITH HIS ONE AND ONLY SON
AND WHEN THEY GOT BACK
INTO THEIR CAB
HE HEARD A RIPPING SOUND
AS THE CONTENTS OF HIS
WIFEÕS FOLDER
SPILLED OUT ONTO THE
GROUND
AS HE RUSHED TO PICK IT
ALL UP
HE GRABBED THE PICTURE FIRST
OF HIM AND HIS WIFE AT THE
AGE NINETEEN
LONG BEFORE SHE HAD GIVEN
BIRTH
AND ON THE BACK HE SAW A
POEM HE HAD WRITTEN TO HER
YEARS BEFORE THEY HAD WED
WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG,
THEIR LIVES JUST BEGUN
AND HERE IS WHAT IT SAID,
ÒIF A SINGLE TEAR FELL
FROM YOUR EYES INTO THE OCEAN
AND THEN WASHED UP ON
SOME FAR AND DISTANT SHORE
I WOULD STILL RECOGNIZE
THAT TEARDROP
FOR IN THE END THAT
TEAR WOULD STILL BE YOURSÓ
AND THEN HE SAW ANOTHER
PICTURE
THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN
BEFORE
OF A LITTLE GIRL IN A
RUSSIAN STYLED COAT
STANDING WITH HER PARENTS,
IN FRONT OF THEIR STORE
THE LITTLE GIRL HE SAW
THERE
HE NOW KNEW WAS A
CHILDHOOD PICTURE OF HIS WIFE
BUT IT WAS ALSO A PICTURE
OF THE LITTLE GIRL
HE HAD JUST MET ON THE
PREVIOUS NIGHT
AND HE REALIZED THAT THOSE
WHO LOVE
DEATH CANNOT DIVIDE
IT ONLY PROVIDES AN EXTRA
SOUL
TO WATCH OVER US FROM THE
OTHER SIDE
AND TOGETHER THEY RETURNED
BACK TO THE FATHERÕS HOME
AND SHARED THE BEST CHRISTMAS
THAT EITHER OF THEM HAD
EVER KNOWN
AND SOMEWHERE ACROSS
ETERNITY
WHICH IN DISTANCE CANNOT
BE MEASURED
THE MOTHER LOOKED DOWN
UPON THEM BOTH
AND THEIR HAPPINESS SHE
TREASURED
AND LATER ON LATE THAT NIGHT
WHEN HER SON WAS DRIFTING
OFF TO SLEEP
A TEAR ONCE MORE ROLLED
FROM HER EYES
AND TRAILED ACROSS HER
CHEEK
BUT THIS ONE WAS A TEAR OF
JOY
THAT SHE COULD NOT KEEP INSIDE
AND THIS TIME SHE FOLLOWED
IT THROUGH ETERNITY
ACROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE
TILL IT LANDED BY ANOTHER
JOYFUL TEAR
THAT HER HUSBAND HAD JUST
WEPT
AND THERE UNSEEN SHE
JOINED HIM
IN THE SILENT VIGIL THAT
HE KEPT
FOR WE ARE ALL BORN MORTAL
LIKE STARS AND CANDLELIGHT
AND ALL THAT REALLY
MATTERS
IS WHAT WE DO BEFORE WE
FALL ASLEEP EACH NIGHT
THIS NIGHT
WE PRAY
OUR LIVES WILL SHOW
THIS DREAM HE HAD
EACH CHILD
STILL KNOWS
WE ARE WAITING
WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN
ON THIS NIGHT
ON THIS NIGHT
ON THIS NIGHT
ON THIS VERY CHRISTMAS NIGHT
LIKE THE SPHINX KNOWS SILENCE
AND THE
PYRAMIDS KNOW TIME
LIKE SISYPHUS KNEW REGRET
AS HE THOUGHT ABOUT HIS
CRIME
AS JULIUS KNEW BETRAYAL
AS JUDAS KNEW THE KISS
AND DAVID WITH HIS NERVOUS
HAND
KNEW WHEN NOT TO MISS
AND HELEN IN HER BLINDNESS
KNEW BETTER HOW TO TOUCH
AND LINCOLN IN HIS WISDOM
KNEW THE ANGELS IN EACH OF
US
LIKE THE DELPHI KNEW
TOMORROW
LIKE CROCODILES KNOW THE NILE
LIKE MICHELANGELO KNEW STONE
A MOTHER KNOWS HER BABYÕS
SMILE
THEN SHE PLACED HER HANDS UPON HIS LIPS
IN SOMETHING AKIN TO A
KISS
AND IN HER ARMS HE STAYED
ASLEEP
AS THE NIGHT GREW DARK AND
THE CHILD DREAMT DEEP
DREAM, CHILD
AS CHILDHOOD WANTS TO DO
DREAM ALL THIS NIGHT WILL
ALLOW
DREAM, CHILD
DREAM WITH AN ANGELÕS VIEW
OUT THERE SAFE IN YOUR CLOUDS
WAIT FOR ME NOW
I WILL BE THERE FOR YOU
NO MATTER WHAT
TOMORROW MAY BRING
THIS I WILL VOW
I WILL BE THERE
FOR THIS CHILD WITH DIFFERENT
DREAM, CHILD
STARS HAVE BEEN RUMORED TO
SEE DREAMS WITHIN NEWBORN
EYES
AND IN THEIR ARMS I BELIEVE
THEY DO
KEEP SAFE UNTIL YOU ARISE
WAIT FOR ME NOW
I WILL BE THERE FOR YOU
NO MATTER WHAT
TOMORROW MAY BRING
THIS I WILL VOW
I WILL BE THERE
FOR THIS CHILD WITH DIFFERENT
WINGS
AND SO ITÕS HERE OUR STORY
ENDS
EXACTLY WHERE IT DID START
IN THAT LABYRINTH OF
MYSTERY
WE CALL THE HUMAN HEART
FOR THEY SAY THAT WITHOUT
IT
NO ONE CAN TRULY LIVE
AND IT ALSO HAS BEEN
RUMORED
THAT WITHOUT IT, WE CANNOT
FORGIVE