First Christmas - Stan Rogers - Live

First Christmas - Stan Rogers Between the breaks - Live

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'd known
And leaving was so hard

Three thousand miles away,
now he's working Christmas Day
Making double time for the minding of the store
Well 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 train station,
pan-handling for change
Four more dollars buys a decent meal and a room
Looks like the Sally Ann place after all,
in a crowded sleeping hall
That echoes like a tomb

But it's warm and clean and free,
and 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 that it won't show
First Christmas away from home

In the apartment stands a tree,
and it looks so small and bare
Not like it was meant to be,
Golden angel on the top
It's not that same old silver star,
you wanted for your own
First Christmas away from home

In the morning, they get prayers,
then it's crafts and tea downstairs
Then another meal back in his little room
Hoping maybe that "the boys" will think to phone
before the day is gone
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 kids all said 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
And it's huge and cold and lifeless
Not like it ought to be,
and the lit-up flashing Santa Claus on top
It's not that same old silver star,
you once made for your own
First Christmas away from home

Category:

Music

Tags:

• First
• Christmas
• Stan
• Rogers
• Between
• the
• breaks
• Live
• Canadian
• Folk

[d0k3pi]

been away from home many Christmases. Every Christmas season, this song comes to my mind now and then. It tears me up every time I listen to it. Such a beautiful song!!

[IrmaFloresta]

I want you to understand that, after two years, I finally created a YouTube account, just so I could comment on this video.

THANK YOU for posting STAN singing this; all the other videos are covers! I own all his albums but am trying to introduce a friend in the US to his music via YouTube links, do you think you could do 45 Years or Jeannie C next?? THANK YOU for helping to keep his music alive.

[d0k3pi]

Thanks for the appreciation. Give me a few days; I'll do '45 years' as soon as I get a chance.

[rfdarsie]

Stan Rogers: One of the best songwriters of the 20th century, no exaggeration!

[wdchrismon]

Very few songs can bring me to tears... This one, and another of Stan's tunes, Lies, always do the trick.

[Willowdared]

Stan Rogers remains one of my favorite artists....such a deeply moving song

[Galadriel46]

Anybody who gets emotional over this song will probably also like "Streets of London" by Ralph McTell, and "Needle of Death" by Bert Jansch.

[doraned]

Absolutely beautiful. First heard this from Harvey Reid. Now I've got to find out more about Stan Rogers.

[powderluder]

@wdchrismon

same. genius.

[eepetius]

Reminds me of my sister in the military :(

[skinflintable]

replying to Shaunmacdonalds comments, I know exactly what you're feeling buddy, But my motto is, Work to live, Don't live to work. When my daughter was born i took the next five years off . My wife worked & I baby sat my sister in law's kids. for my pogey. try it. I Remember the smell of turkey , cornedbeef &cabbage, Ribblets, moose roast, &good old salt cod, you could be a kindred spirit . reply to GREG. I will know

[KanyeTroll]

saddest song OF ALL TIME!!!!

[dianeandterry]

Last Christmas was my first Christmas without my husband... he died before Thanksgiving. We were married for 38 years...

[shaunmacdonald123]

As all East Coasters know from time to time work takes us from home.......a home that we only know......soft......warm..... and the smell of moms turkey and dressing fills the house........aaaaaa a feeling I will never forget.......and everytime I experience it .... it always brings me back to when I was a kid with the snow banks up to the eves of the house. I tell ya bys being away from all a that stuff is pretty hard for a fella to swallow.