ROGERS STAN - "first christmas" Tablature

From: Barrie McCombs <bmccombs@acs.ucalgary.ca>

FIRST CHRISTMAS Time: 3/4 (sync) Tenor: D Bass: C?
- Stan Rogers, 1979, on Between The Breaks, Key: D


INTRO: 1, 6m, 57, 1

1 * 5 1
This day a year a-go, he was rolling in the snow
6m 5 4 1 *
With a younger brother in his father's yard
5 * 6m * 2m
Christmas break, a time for touching home, the heart of all he'd known
* 5 4 5
And leaving was so hard_________
1 * 5 *
Three thousand miles a-way, now he's . working Christmas Day
6m 5 4 1 *
Making double time for the minding of the store
5 * 6m
Well he always said, he'd make it on his own
* 2m *
He's spending Christmas Eve a-lone
4 5 1 * 5 5
First Christmas a-way from home

1 * 5 1
She's standing by the train station, .. pan-handling for change
6m 5 4 1 *
Four more dollars buys a decent meal and a room
5 * 6m * 2m
Looks like the Sally Ann place after all, in a crowded sleeping hall
* 5 4 5
That echoes like a tomb_______
1 * 5 *
But it's warm and clean and free, and there are worse places to be
6m 5 4 1 *
At least it means no beating from her Dad
5 * 6m
And if she cries be-cause it's Christmas Day
* 2m *
She hopes that it won't show
4 5 1 *
First Christmas a-way from home


BRIDGE ONE:
5 * 5/4 5 1
..... In the a-partment stands a tree, and it looks so small and bare
4 * * 5 5/4
Not like it was meant to be____, ..... Golden angel on the top
* 6m * 2m
It's not that same old silver star, you wanted for your own
* 4 5 1 *
First Christmas a-way from home (INSTRUMENTAL)


NOTES:
- Rogers: tunes DADGBE, strums B 43 B2 43

FIRST CHRISTMAS PAGE TWO


1 * 5 1
In the morning, they get prayers, then it's crafts and tea down-stairs
6m 5 4 1 *
Then a-nother meal back in his little room
5 * 6m * 2m
Hoping maybe that "the boys" will think to phone be-fore the day is gone
* 5 4 5
Well, it's best they do it soon________
1 * 5 *
When the "old girl" passed a-way, he fell a-part more every day
6m 5 4 1 *
Each had always kept the other pretty well
5 * 6m
But the kids all said the nursing home was best
* 2m *
Cause he couldn't live a-lone
4 5 1 *
First Christmas a-way from home



BRIDGE TWO:
5 * 5/4
In the common room they've got the biggest tree /
5 1
/ And it's huge and cold and lifeless
4 * * 5 5/4
Not like it ought to be____, and the lit-up flashing Santa Claus on top
* 6m * *
It's not that same old silver star, you once made for your own
* 4 5 1 *
First Christmas a-way from home
SYMBOLS:
- Asterisk (*) = new measure, play same chord
- Period (.) = 1/8 note rest at start of a measure
- Underline(_) = sustain note into next measure

CHORDS (Number System):
- Example: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- Key of C: C D E F G A B
- Detailed description: /pub/guitar/other_stuff/numbering_system.txt
- Submitted by: Barrie McCombs (bmccombs@acs.ucalgary.ca)

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Even if it requires at least one box of Kleenex to get
through this song!