Verse 1 Christmas morning, hear them ring, Boxes shake and wrapping sing, What is hiding, what is this thing? Mar-im-ba time. Lift the lid and there it stands, Polished wood and golden bars, Mallets resting in my hands, Mar-im-ba time. Verse 2 Wait—what’s this behind the chair? Older marimba sitting there, Looking smugly, like it’s aware, Mar-im-ba time. Two now waiting, side by side, Destiny I cannot hide, I declare with foolish pride, “I can play both.” Chorus Play them both! Play them both! I can do it, yes I can! Left and right, day and night, Witness me, the rhythm man! Play them both! Play them both! History will note this day— Count me in— Oh no— Go! Verse 3 Hands collide and mallets fly, Tempo laughs as it goes by, One plays low while one goes high, Mar-im-ba fight. Elbows knock and wrists complain, Brain has fully left the train, This was maybe not well-planned, Mar-im-ba plight. Verse 4 Left hand’s lost in minor key, Right hand’s playing jazz, maybe, Feet attempt choreography, Badly done. One wrong note becomes twelve more, Music spills across the floor, I invent a sound before None should hear. Chorus Play them both! Play them both! No retreat and no control! Every bar a brand-new crime, Every beat out of my soul! Play them both! Play them both! Christmas guests begin to sweat— Is this song Still a song? Hard to tell. Bridge Mallet gone! Cat involved! Uncle Dave has been bonked hard! Tree now shaking, ornaments fall, Deck the halls—oops—my bad. I spin round, I miss my cue, Play a chord no ear should do, Time collapses, rhythm too, Sweet despair. Final Verse Silence drops like gentle snow, One last note—too loud, too slow, Both marimbas gently know I have failed. I bow low and take my shame, Christmas never quite the same, But next year I’ll try again… One at a time. Outro Play them both? No, not me. One marimba. Christmas peace.
