Stan Rogers 1978
"This song was first performed in Sylvia Tyson's living room at a musical Christmas party that was taped for broadcast on CBC Radio's late, lamented and sadly missed 'Touch the Earth'. Since we did this album we haven't played this song on stage very often. Garnet says, with some justification, that it is too much of a downer. Definitely a three-hankie song."
This day a year ago, he was rolling in the snow
With a younger brother in his father’s yard
Christmas break, a time for touching home,
The heart of all he’d known
And leaving was so hard
Three thousand miles away, Now he’s working Christmas Day
Making double time for the minding of the store
Well he always said, he’d make it on his own
He’s spending Christmas Eve alone
First Christmas away from home
She’s standing by the train station, Pan-handling for change
Four more dollars buys a decent meal and a room
Looks like the Sally Ann place after all,
In a crowded sleeping hall
That echoes like a tomb
But it’s warm and clean and free, And there are worse places to be
At least it means no beating from her Dad
And if she cries because it’s Christmas Day
She hopes that it won’t show
First Christmas away from home
Bridge 1:
In the apartment stands a tree,
And it looks so small and bare Not like it was meant to be,
Golden angel on the top It’s not that same old silver star,
You wanted for your own
First Christmas away from home
In the morning, they get prayers, Then it’s crafts and tea downstairs
Then another meal back in his little room
Hoping maybe that “the boys” Will think to phone
before the day is gone
Well, it’s best they do it soon
When the “old girl” passed away, He fell apart more every day
Each had always kept the other pretty well
But the kids all said the nursing home was best
Cause he couldn’t live alone
First Christmas away from home
Bridge 2:
In the common room they’ve got the biggest tree
And it’s huge and cold and lifeless Not like it ought to be,
And the lit-up flashing Santa Claus on top It’s not that same old silver star,
You once made for your own
First Christmas away from home