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