First Christmas by Stan Rogers From: Barrie McCombs 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! www.TAB6.com