I admit, with much trepidation...

...that there are two christmas songs that, I cannot, no matter how hard I try, stay dry eyed and listen to. Whether happy, melancholy, sad, angry, or even utterly pissed, these songs cut through it all and hit me. HARD.

You've got to wait on the second, but here is the first, as I prepare for all of my siblings to come help me decorate my utterly too large tree. I dont even care if you think the songs are cheesy...I sure do.

Alfie

Did you ever hear the story of the Christmas tree that just didn't want to change the show?
He liked living in the woods and playing with the squirrels
He liked ice cycles and snow
He liked wolves and eagles and grizzly bears
And critters and creatures that crawled
Why bugs were some of his very best friends
Spiders and ants and all
And that's not to say that he ever looked down on the vision of twinkling lights
Or mirrored bubbles and peppermint canes and a thousand of other delights
And he often had dreams of tiny reindeer
And a jolly old man in a tiny red sleigh full of toys and presents and wonderful things
And the story of Christmas day

Oh Alfie believed in Christmas all right
He was full of Christmas cheer
All of each and every day
And all through out the year
To him it was more than a special time
Much more than a special day
It was more than a beautiful story
It was a special kind of way

You see, some folks have never heard a jingle bell ring
And they've never heard of Santa Claus
They've never heard the story of the son of god
That made Alfie pause
Did that mean that they'd never know of peace on earth?
Or the brotherhood of man
Or know how to love
Or know how to give
If they can't, no one can

You see, life, is a very special kind of thing
Not just for a chosen few
But for each and every living, breathing thing
Not just me and you

So in your Christmas prayers this year
Alfie asked me if I'd ask you
Say a prayer for the wind
And the water
And the wood
And those who live there too

It's In Every One Of Us

It's in every one of us
To be wise
Find your heart
Open up both your eyes

We can all know everything
Without ever knowing why
It's in every one of us
By and by
It's in every one of us
To be wise
Find your heart
Open up both of your eyes
We can all know everything
Without ever knowing why
By and by
By and by