John Prine
Christmas in Prison
[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
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

[Verse 2]
She reminds me of a chess game with someone I admire
Or a picnic in the rain after a prairiе fire
Her heart is as big as this wholе goddamn jail
And she's sweeter than saccharin at a drug store sale

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

[Bridge]
Man, oh man
I just love Christmas
It's just so darn neat
I kinda wish everyday was Christmas
Except for Christmas Eve
And the Fourth of July
We wouldn't want to miss those fireworks, would we
When I was a kid, we used to get the Christmas catalogue from Montgomery Wards in Chicago
Sometimes we'd get it as early as late August
It was the big book of wishes, hopes, desires
My three brothers and I were alotted twenty five bucks a piece
Including tax
So I'd make up a different Christmas list every night from the 1st of December to... 24th of December
Matter of fact, let me present you my Christmas credentials
When I was three years old, this is what my mother told me
I ate an entire ornament -- ate a big red one I thought it was an apple
They kinda freaked out, Dad 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 still have that Christmas in me all the time, you know?
Then there was the year that my mom and dad gave me my first guitar
Oh man, it was gorgeous! I still got the thing
It was, uh, like aqua blue
Kind of dark aqua blue
With a cream colored heart
It was a Silvertone from Montgomery Wards
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 the string around my neck of that guitar and tryin' to look like Elvis
Then my brother Dave taught me a couple chords
And now I'm here in your living room singing and talking to you, haha
It's funny how things work out
So, uh, why don't you go find a stranger, extend your hand to him
You see somebody looks like they– they ain't doing quite as well as you
Slip 'em a buck, specially if they don't ask for spare change
Go buy your honey a cuckoo clock
Or a musical snow-shaking water ball
The one you wind it up in place
I want you, I need you, I love you, with all my heart
'Cause after all, Hell, man -- it's Christmas
[Verse 3]
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

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