Standard (EADGBE)

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