Intro
Am C Am C G Am
[Verse 1]
Am C
I come to you now with ink and quill to commit my soul by my own free will
Am C
For if I don't care to climb that hill and tell my tale, nobody will
C G Am
one winter's night, long ago
[Verse 2]
Am C
They were wide awake in the carriage house and I snuck to the window like a stable mouse
Am C
Now I can't forget and my hair's gone white, the things I saw in the flickering light
C G Am
one winter's night, long ago
[Verse 3]
Am C
They were all in the kitchen and the drink did flow, there was Bing and Dean on the radio
Am C
The wind did howl, they will send below, they were safe and sound from the ice and snow
C G Am
[Verse 4]
Am C
And on the windowsill by the candle's glow I could see an old cat calico
Am C
E bowl of cloves and pistachios, a bow on a thistle and some mistletoe
C G Am
one winter's night, long ago
[Verse 5]
Am C
Once I surveyed the scene I made my haste, up to the chimney without a trace
Am C
For the sand runs fast at a rabbit's pace and it's Christmas Eve, no time to waste
C G Am
[Verse 6]
Am C
I crept past the kitchen on the tip of my toes, straight to the parlor where the pine tree glows
Am C
E string of socks lined up in rows, I was followed by that old cat calico
C G Am
one winter's night, long ago
[Verse 7]
Am C
There in the house of the familyhood, they had nine little babes and they'd all been good
Am C
I was carrying more than an old man should, nine little kittens made out of wood
C G Am
[Verse 8]
Am C
As I knelt beneath that Christmas tree and spread the gifts out quietly
Am C
All at once so suddenly I found myself with company
C G Am
one winter's night, long ago
[Verse 9]
Am C
His presence shocked and bothered me for I must work in secrecy
Am C
But there he was, all shadowy, his feet just cloaked in mystery
Am C
His voice was low and pillowy, as he offered his apology
Am C
Do not fear he said to me, and pardon my proximity
Am C
My name is Arthur Hood he said but you can call me Art instead
Am C
I built the floor upon which we tread and I built the roof up over head
Am C
And much like you, I am seldom seen, rarely want to intervene
Am C
I fix things up and I keep things clean, catching leaks and mending screens
Am C
And I always felt that you and I were of one fate to occupy
Am C
Pleased to meet you eye-to-eye and he wished me well and he said goodbye
C G Am
one winter's night, long ago
[Verse 10]
Am C
It was time to go for the bells did ring, I had a list of lists about a thousand things
Am C
That's one song I shall not sing, for the eye must leave what the silence brings
C G Am
one winter's night, long ago
[Outro]
Am C
I was heading for the chimney just as slow as I could when I saw on the mantle carved into the wood
Am C
Six little words that would shiver me good: "In loving memory of Arthur Hood"
C G Am
one winter's night, long ago
Am
In loving memory of Arthur Hood
C G Am
one winter's night, long ago
C G Am
one winter's night, long ago