First Christmas chords 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