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

[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!!

[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.

[fabian ward]

i have been away for over 20 years for christmas and as u get older they dont get any easier..memories still linger on

[nignogniggest]

don't fucking cry ;_;

[CCROGAN4]

Profound. 

[Scott Thomas]

Heart breaking! I've always loved this. Stan was just so amazing! Thanks for posting!

[Wythergrange]

Love this song. Makes me realize how damned lucky I am!!!

[enterobsidian]

Staring down both barrels of what looks like it's going to be my first away from home. This song resonates deeply and tears the heart strings right out. I know I'll be listening to it on the 25th - also my birthday.....

[NonPlayerCharacterLP]

this song makes me cry every time i hear it...

[Dabednego]

Stan Rogers knew how to yank at your heartstrings. This and The Last Watch make me weep.

[Willowdared]

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