From the recording Mystic Rhythm Fingers
Lyrics
A Childhood Christmas
Drew James © 2008
My only church is the universe
That blows my sweet time away
Where an ancient bearded man with a sickle and an hourglass
Pays me a visit each day
He spoke only once that I remember
It came as a total surprise
He tapped me twice on the shoulder
And said, ”Brother, can you spare the time?”
Open the curtains, stoke up the fire
Look out on the chapel dark sea
Wipe the grins from your mud covered rain boots
As the moon conjures up tonight’s dreams
Brush away the cobwebs, turn up the lamp
Splash gaslight into the trees
And I’ll paint you a picture of a childhood Christmas
I can make it any color you please
The silent stars in the heavens
Prepare them selves to be gazed
While the ocean writes a song inside of a seashell
A steam organ waltz gently plays
The evening becomes sentimental
When the whales start telling their tales
The town crier’s tears fall around me
Filling 22 buckets and pails
(Chorus)
Love sends out its invitations
They must be opened behind closed doors
Dressed in the language of hope and creation
They always leave you wanting for more
The dream wheel spins for good fortune
Where the carnival kewpie doll smiles
Skeptics and hopers both become gamblers
Glassy eyed, nervous and wild
(Chorus X2)