Last Christmas Away From Home

[INTRO — Lonely fingerpicked acoustic guitar, distant piano, soft winter wind. Male baritone, intimate and weary.] There’s a two-foot tree beside the television, Three little ornaments and a string of lights. A carton of eggnog in the refrigerator, And another Christmas Eve alone tonight. [VERSE 1 — Restrained country vocal, gentle acoustic guitar] I mailed the presents out on Monday, Paid extra just to get ‘em there. Put my name on all the little cards, But I won’t see their faces when they tear The wrapping paper off the boxes, Or hear the laughter down the hall. I’ll get a picture on my telephone, And pretend that it’s enough after all. There’s a thousand miles of interstate Between the life I have and where I belong. And every year I tell myself I’m fine, But I’ve been lying for too long. [PRE-CHORUS — Soft pedal steel enters] I used to love this time of year, Now I just count the days. Funny how a place can feel like home Till Christmas comes and takes that feeling away. [CHORUS — Emotional country ballad, warm strings building] This is my last Christmas away from home, My last December spending Christmas alone. I’m tired of drinking eggnog by myself, Putting all my memories on a dusty shelf. I want a Christmas tree that touches the ceiling, Paper on the floor and that old familiar feeling. Snowball fights and frozen hands, And everybody laughing till we can’t stand. A thousand miles is a thousand too long, This is my last Christmas away from home. [VERSE 2 — Fuller acoustic arrangement, reflective male vocal] I miss the windows glowing after dark, The smell of pine and cinnamon. The way the house would fill with voices Every time somebody wandered in. I miss the arguments about the music, Who gets the angel, who gets the star. The driveway buried under snow, And scraping frost off everybody’s cars. Down here the palm trees wear their Christmas lights, And the weather’s warm enough for short sleeves. But I would trade these sunny afternoons For one cold morning with my family. [PRE-CHORUS — Voice grows more vulnerable] I don’t need another postcard With a picture-perfect view. I need to hear somebody down the hall And know that I belong there too. [CHORUS — Full country instrumentation, restrained drums] This is my last Christmas away from home, My last December spending Christmas alone. I’m tired of drinking eggnog by myself, Putting all my memories on a dusty shelf. I want a Christmas tree that touches the ceiling, Paper on the floor and that old familiar feeling. Snowball fights and frozen hands, And everybody laughing till we can’t stand. A thousand miles is a thousand too long, This is my last Christmas away from home. [BRIDGE — Piano and acoustic guitar only, nearly spoken male baritone] I kept saying, “Maybe next year,” Like next year was guaranteed. But time keeps taking little pieces Of the people that I need. And there’s an empty chair up north now That nobody wanted there. I can’t get back the Christmases I’ve missed, But I can make the ones still left to share. So I’ve made up my mind this evening, While these little lights still glow. When the holidays are over, I’m packing up and heading north. [FINAL CHORUS — Begins softly, then builds with emotional strings and gospel-tinged harmonies] This is my last Christmas away from home, The last one where I wake up all alone. Next year I’ll be there wrapping presents, With a house full of noise and a kitchen full of messes. I want a real tree standing in the corner, A fire burning while the snow keeps falling. Cold red noses, mittens on the floor, And someone hollering, “Come on in!” when I knock on the door. I don’t need a perfect Christmas song, I just need to be where I belong. A thousand miles is a thousand too long… This is my last Christmas away from home. [OUTRO — Fingerpicked guitar returns, piano resolves gently. Male voice, almost whispered.] I’ll leave the little tree up Till the last light burns out. Then I’ll put it in a box… And next year, I’ll take it home. [END — Single acoustic guitar chord, soft sleigh bell fades.]