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12-19-06, 05:47 AM
I humbly submit for your approval a Christmas ballad I wrote a couple of years ago. I hope you enjoy. If not, please go easy on me. Thanks and Merry Christmas.
JUKEBOX MIRACLES
“T’was a lonely Christmas Evening
I went driving in my car
No place to be, nowhere to go
I found an open bar.
It was lined with lonely people
All just needing someone near
I found a seat down at the end
And ordered up a beer.
Christmas dinner was a burger
With a pickle and some fries
For dessert I had another beer
And searched the vacant eyes.
Each face seemed to tell a story
And each seemed so sad a tale
With the beer and my own musing
I saw each in clear detail.
The old couple in the corner
All those years they worked so hard
Their kids won’t come around or call
They don’t even sent a card.
There’s a fellow in the corner
His kids don’t give a damn
He’s treated like an invalid
Because he’s an old man.
The looker at the other end
Knows loneliness too well
There’s not too many out tonight
Buying what she has to sell.
The lady sitting next to her
Has simply lived to long
Out lived husband, friends and kids,
And now she’s all alone.
The waitress leaning on the bar
Left home at seventeen
Now she’s bringing up a baby
That her folks have never seen.
And as for me, I’d have to say
For reasons of my own
I choose to keep myself apart
From everyone I’ve known.
Chorus: So raise your glass and drink a toast
To our Savior born today
He died to save us from our sins
Or so the Scriptures say
And if He’s up there looking down
If He can see somehow
I only hope He really knows
How much we need Him now.
Now as we sat they’re all alone
Lost each in our own cares
Not knowing of the Miracle
About to happen there.
When all at once the door pushed in
And standing in the light
A ragged man in tattered clothes
Came from the frosty night.
The barkeep yelled out to the man
“We don’t give credit here
Just walk back out the way you came
If you can’t buy a beer.”
The man just looked around at us
As if he hadn’t heard
He slowly walked down past the bar
And didn’t say a word.
He went back to the corner where
A dusty jukebox sat
And pulled a grimy quarter from
The brim of his old hat.
While standing there he turned to us
I thought I saw him grin
Turning back, so slow it seems
He dropped the quarter in.
Then quietly at first, as though
As if from far away
From somewhere up above our heads
A song began to play.
`Silent Night, Oh! Holy Night`
Drifted out into the room
And with each note the song began
To brighten up the gloom.
Now when it stopped, without a pause,
`Ere we could say a word
From that juke box in the corner
Another song was heard.
Then all at once it happened
Like a rare and magic thing
As one by one carols played
We all began to sing.
And as our hearts and voices joined
And rang out into the night
In the darkness where we lived our lives
There crept a little light.
In our loneliness we found a bond
If only for a while
To share our lives, our hopes and dreams
And have a chance to smile.
Chorus: So raise your glass and drink a toast
To our Savior born today
He died to save us from our sins
Or so the Scriptures say
And if He’s up there looking down
If He can see somehow
I only hope He really knows
How much we need Him now.
Later as the hour grew late And we all turned to go
One by one we said good-bye
And walked out in the snow.
As I turned to leave I saw
They’re standing all alone
The bartender by the jukebox
Still and straight as if of stone.
I put my hand upon his arm
He slowly turned his head
I saw a teardrop in his eye
As quietly he said.
“There’s no Christmas carols in this box”
As he fought back his tears
“Not only that, but it’s been broke
For over fifteen years.”
Looking down I saw the quarter
Lying in the coin return
Just for a moment time stood still
I felt the world turn.
Right then I felt a chill run up
And down along my spine
That mystery man in tattered clothes
Had brought us all a sign.
Though I could not remember When he must have just slipped out
But he found us for a reason
Of that I have no doubt.
Now you may not believe at all
This story that I say
But I carry is my pocket
That quarter to this day.
Chorus: So raise your voice and sing your praise
To our Savior born today
He’s come to us to bring us hope
To help us find our way
And He is up there looking down
I know He sees somehow
For He has shown He really knows
How much we need Him now.
Don Barnett©1998
JUKEBOX MIRACLES
“T’was a lonely Christmas Evening
I went driving in my car
No place to be, nowhere to go
I found an open bar.
It was lined with lonely people
All just needing someone near
I found a seat down at the end
And ordered up a beer.
Christmas dinner was a burger
With a pickle and some fries
For dessert I had another beer
And searched the vacant eyes.
Each face seemed to tell a story
And each seemed so sad a tale
With the beer and my own musing
I saw each in clear detail.
The old couple in the corner
All those years they worked so hard
Their kids won’t come around or call
They don’t even sent a card.
There’s a fellow in the corner
His kids don’t give a damn
He’s treated like an invalid
Because he’s an old man.
The looker at the other end
Knows loneliness too well
There’s not too many out tonight
Buying what she has to sell.
The lady sitting next to her
Has simply lived to long
Out lived husband, friends and kids,
And now she’s all alone.
The waitress leaning on the bar
Left home at seventeen
Now she’s bringing up a baby
That her folks have never seen.
And as for me, I’d have to say
For reasons of my own
I choose to keep myself apart
From everyone I’ve known.
Chorus: So raise your glass and drink a toast
To our Savior born today
He died to save us from our sins
Or so the Scriptures say
And if He’s up there looking down
If He can see somehow
I only hope He really knows
How much we need Him now.
Now as we sat they’re all alone
Lost each in our own cares
Not knowing of the Miracle
About to happen there.
When all at once the door pushed in
And standing in the light
A ragged man in tattered clothes
Came from the frosty night.
The barkeep yelled out to the man
“We don’t give credit here
Just walk back out the way you came
If you can’t buy a beer.”
The man just looked around at us
As if he hadn’t heard
He slowly walked down past the bar
And didn’t say a word.
He went back to the corner where
A dusty jukebox sat
And pulled a grimy quarter from
The brim of his old hat.
While standing there he turned to us
I thought I saw him grin
Turning back, so slow it seems
He dropped the quarter in.
Then quietly at first, as though
As if from far away
From somewhere up above our heads
A song began to play.
`Silent Night, Oh! Holy Night`
Drifted out into the room
And with each note the song began
To brighten up the gloom.
Now when it stopped, without a pause,
`Ere we could say a word
From that juke box in the corner
Another song was heard.
Then all at once it happened
Like a rare and magic thing
As one by one carols played
We all began to sing.
And as our hearts and voices joined
And rang out into the night
In the darkness where we lived our lives
There crept a little light.
In our loneliness we found a bond
If only for a while
To share our lives, our hopes and dreams
And have a chance to smile.
Chorus: So raise your glass and drink a toast
To our Savior born today
He died to save us from our sins
Or so the Scriptures say
And if He’s up there looking down
If He can see somehow
I only hope He really knows
How much we need Him now.
Later as the hour grew late And we all turned to go
One by one we said good-bye
And walked out in the snow.
As I turned to leave I saw
They’re standing all alone
The bartender by the jukebox
Still and straight as if of stone.
I put my hand upon his arm
He slowly turned his head
I saw a teardrop in his eye
As quietly he said.
“There’s no Christmas carols in this box”
As he fought back his tears
“Not only that, but it’s been broke
For over fifteen years.”
Looking down I saw the quarter
Lying in the coin return
Just for a moment time stood still
I felt the world turn.
Right then I felt a chill run up
And down along my spine
That mystery man in tattered clothes
Had brought us all a sign.
Though I could not remember When he must have just slipped out
But he found us for a reason
Of that I have no doubt.
Now you may not believe at all
This story that I say
But I carry is my pocket
That quarter to this day.
Chorus: So raise your voice and sing your praise
To our Savior born today
He’s come to us to bring us hope
To help us find our way
And He is up there looking down
I know He sees somehow
For He has shown He really knows
How much we need Him now.
Don Barnett©1998