[Verse 1] Take me back to that old front room, Pine tree leanin’ by the window in bloom, Grandma’s laugh and Grandpa’s chair, Cousins piled up everywhere. Dinner on the table, hands held tight, Thankin’ God for another year’s light. Love was louder than the TV’s glare, And every heart was really there. [Pre-Chorus] If I close my eyes, I can hear it still, Those gentle songs rolling over the hill… [Chorus] Back when Christmas meant more than a sale at the store, Back when family was the gift we were all thankful for. Choirs sang “Away in a Manger,” soft and low, “The First Noel” in the candle glow. We gave what we could and we opened each door, To a love that was humble and poor. Take me back, Lord, to those days before, When we didn’t forget what Christmas was for. [Verse 2] Sunday shoes on a frosty night, Church bells ringin’ in the clear starlight. We’d walk that road as a family line, Breath like angels in the cold night shine. Pew creaks gently as we’d all kneel down, Hope and mercy in a manger crown. No one checked their phones or the time, We were wrapped up in something divine. [Pre-Chorus] And I can still feel that peace so deep, Like heaven brushed the earth in a shepherd’s sleep. [Chorus] Back when Christmas meant more than a sale at the store, Back when family was the gift we were all thankful for. Choirs sang “Away in a Manger,” soft and low, “The First Noel” in the candle glow. We gave what we could and we opened each door, To a love that was humble and poor. Take me back, Lord, to those days before, When we didn’t forget what Christmas was for. [Bridge] Now the lights are brighter and the lines are long, But somehow the heart of it feels all wrong. We’re chasing boxes tied up in bows, While the star over Bethlehem still glows. So gather ’round the table, let grudges fall, Say a prayer for the least of all. Let the carols rise like they did before, Till the meaning breaks through every door. [Final Chorus] ’Cause Christmas still means more than a sale at the store, And family’s still the gift we should be fighting for. Let the choirs sing “Away in a Manger” once again, “The First Noel” rolling on the wind. Let our gifts be kindness, mercy for the poor, Simple love like that stable floor. Take us back, Lord, in our hearts once more, So we never forget what Christmas is for.
