Bright Eyes and John Prine - Christmas In Prison

It was Christmas in prison, the food was real good
We had turkey and pistols carved out of wood
I dream of her always, even when I don't dream
Her name's on my tongue and her blood's in my stream

Wait awhile, eternity
Old mother nature's got nothing on me
So come to me, run to me, come to me now
We're rolling, my sweetheart, we're flowing, by God

She reminds me of a chess game with someone I admire
Or a picnic in the rain after a prairie fire
Her heart is as big as this whole goddamn jail
And she's sweeter than saccharin at a drug store sale

Wait awhile, eternity
Old mother nature's got nothing on me
Ah, come to me, run to me, come to me now
We're rolling, my sweetheart, we're flowing, by God

Man, oh, man, I just love Christmas
It's just so darn neat
I kinda wish every day was Christmas
Except for, Christmas Eve
And uh, the fourth of July
We wouldn't wanna miss out on the fireworks, would we?

When I was a kid, we used to get the Christmas catalogue
From Montgomery Ward's in Chicago
Sometimes we'd get it as early as late August
That was the big book of wishes, hopes and desires
My three brothers and I were allotted twenty-five bucks a piece, including tax
So I'd make up a different Christmas list every night
From the first of September 'til the twenty-fourth of December
Matter of fact, let me present you my Christmas credentials

When I was three years old, at least that's what my mother told me
I ate an entire ornament, I ate a big red one I thought was an apple
They kinda freaked out and was gonna take me to the hospital
But they couldn't stop me from laughing, so, they just left me alone
So I guess I've still got that Christmas in me all the time, ya know?

Then there was the year that my ma and dad gave me my first guitar
Aw man, it was gorgeous, I've still got the thing
It was a, like aqua blue, kinda dark aqua blue
With a cream colored heart, it was a silver-tongue from Montgomery Ward's
The model was called Kentucky Blue
And man, when I saw that sitting under the tree, I just couldn't wait

First year or so, I didn't know how to play it
I'd just stand in front of the mirror
With a string around my neck and that guitar
And I tried to look like Elvis
Then my brother Dave taught me a couple of chords
And now I'm here in your living room singing and talkin' to ya
It's funny how things work out

So uh, why don't you go find a stranger, extend your hand to 'em
If you see somebody looks like they ain't doing quite as well as you
Slip 'em a buck, especially if they don't ask for spare change
Go buy your honey a cuckoo-clock or a musical snow shakin' water ball
And when you wind it up it plays
I want you, I need you, I love you with all my heart
'Cause after all, yeah man, it's Christmas

The searchlight in the big yard swings 'round like a gun
And the spotlights, the snowflakes, like dust in the sun
It's Christmas in prison, there'll be music tonight
And I'll probably get homesick, I love you, goodnight

Wait awhile, eternity
Old mother nature's got nothing on me
So come to me, run to me, come to me now
We're rolling, my sweetheart, we're flowing, by God

Written by:
John Prine

Publisher:
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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