Christmas Eve, Broken Dreams
Celtic folk Christmas waltz: a slow piano intro that opens into a lilting 3/4 with tin whistle, accordion, banjo and strings, with a raspy male voice and a clear female voice in a duet. Bittersweet and boisterous, sung in English, about a couple's broken dreams on Christmas Eve in a big city.
Lyrics
The radiator hissed its final sighWhile wet snow slapped against the glass.I promised you a kingdom in the sky,But watched the months and seasons pass.[Tin whistle enters, mournful melody]The landlord’s knocking on the door,The holiday is just a ghost.We’re sitting on this cold linoleum floor,Drinking to the things we lost the most.It’s a long way down from the ledge,A bitter pill to swallow whole.We’re dancing on the razor’s edge,God rest your weary soul.It’s a long way down from the ledge,In a town that’s bought and sold.We’re dancing on the razor’s edge,In the biting Christmas cold.I had a dress of lace and silk,Hidden in a box beneath the bed.Now we’re buying bread and watered milk,Repeating every word we never said.[Banjo strums faster, boisterous energy]The tavern lights are blurred and green,The subway screams a hollow tune.We’re the finest wreck this city’s seen,Beneath a grey and heavy moon.It’s a long way down from the ledge,A bitter pill to swallow whole.We’re dancing on the razor’s edge,God rest your weary soul.It’s a long way down from the ledge,In a town that’s bought and sold.We’re dancing on the razor’s edge,In the biting Christmas cold.Put your head upon my shoulder now,The rent is due, the wine is gone.[Clear female voice joins, harmonizing]We’ll make a new and quiet vow,To simply see the coming dawn.It’s a long way down from the ledge,A bitter pill to swallow whole.We’re dancing on the razor’s edge,God rest your weary soul.It’s a long way down from the ledge,In a town that’s bought and sold.We’re dancing on the razor’s edge,In the biting Christmas cold.Merry Christmas, babe.[Tin whistle plays a final, lonely trill]Just hold on tight.