Henry's Songbook

This day a year ago he was rolling in the snow
With a younger brother in his father's yard
Christmas break, a time for touching home
The heart of all he's known, leaving was so hard
Now three thousand miles away he's working Christmas Day
Earning double time for the minding of the store
He always said he'd make it on his own
He's spending Christmas Eve alone
First Christmas away from home

She's standing by the railway station, panhandling for change
One more dollar buys a decent room and a meal
Looks like the Sally Ann place after all
The vast and dreaming hall that echoes like a tomb
But it's warm and clean and free, there are worse places to be
And at least it means no beating from her dad
And if she cries because it's Christmas Day
She hopes it doesn't show
First Christmas away from home

In the hall they've got the biggest tree but it looks so small and bare
Not like it was meant to be
And the angel on the top it's not the same old silver star
You once made for your own
First Christmas away from home

In the morning there are prayers, then there's tea and crafts downstairs
Then another meal up in his little room
Hoping that the boys will think to call
Before the day is done, well it's best they do it soon
When the old girl passed away he fell apart more every day
Each had always kept the other pretty well
But the boys agreed the nursing home was best
'Cause he couldn't live alone
First Christmas away from home

In the common room they've got the biggest tree, it's huge and lifeless
Not like it was meant to be
The Santa Claus on top it's not the same old silver star
You once made for your own
First Christmas away from home