Honky-Tonk Christmas

[Intro] (Pedal steel sighs, upright piano waltz begins softly) [Verse 1 — Rosie] The plastic wreath is dusty on the barroom’s swinging door, The jukebox plays “Silent Night,” and I order one drink more. The bartender’s got a Santa hat perched on his weary head, We’re a congregation of the lonely, the forgotten, and misled. [Chorus — Both] So string the lights on last year’s promises, Pour some tinsel on the blues. We’ll toast the ghosts of Christmases We knew we couldn’t lose. There’s no snow here on the window, just the neon and the rain, Merry Christmas from a barstool, singing through the pain. [Verse 2 — Alex] A fella down the counter buys a round for all the strays, He talks about a family in some long-lost yesterday. We don’t ask for details, and we don’t tell any lies, We just see the same sad holiday reflected in our eyes. [Bridge — Rosie & Alex, trading lines] Rosie: I’ve been here since your granddad left that year in sixty-two. Alex: Guess I got your restless heart, that jukebox pulls me through. Rosie: It ain’t the North Pole, but there’s kindness in this place. Alex: And Grandma, I can see your Christmas shining in your face. [Final Chorus — Both, harmony] So string the lights on last year’s promises, Pour some tinsel on the blues. We’ll raise our glass to broken hearts And find a little truth. There’s no snow here on the window, just the neon and the rain, But love still finds the lonesome, in a honky-tonk refrain. [Outro — Rosie (spoken), Alex (harmony hum)] Rosie: Here’s to Christmas, wherever you are. Alex: (softly) Merry Christmas, Grandma. (Piano fades, steel guitar holds the last note)