Christmas Time In The City - Mary Chapin Carpenter

Well I walked to town in the pouring rain

Paid my fare and I rode that train

To the station under the avenue

Hit the air at the stroke of noon

At the cross streets where I staked my claim

I played in tune with the winter rain

Collecting dimes and dollar bills

While the noisy traffic played the fills

And it’s Christmas time in the city

When the air is filled with cheer

And the storefronts look this pretty only once a year

Well the vendors huddled and the taxis honked

As I played for change beneath the neon clock

Was dressed up looking like a Christmas tree

Blinking down on that busy street

When the crowd thinned out and the rain had quit

And my fingers felt cold and stiff

I took their money and I closed my case

And I headed back towards home again

And it’s Christmas time in the city

When the air is filled with cheer

And the storefronts look this pretty only once a year

As I walked back to the subway stairs

I had twenty eight dollars in change for fare

There was an old bag lady with an outstretched hand

And a small Salvation Army band

Playing Angels We Have Heard on High

The First Noel and O Holy Night

I folded up one dollar bill

And I tucked it down into the till

And it’s Christmas time in the city

When the air is filled with cheer

And the storefronts look this pretty only once a year

And it’s Christmas time in the city

When the air is filled with cheer

And the storefronts look this pretty only once a year

And it’s Christmas time in the city