lyrics - The Carol Project

The Christmas Carol Project - lyrics

BAH HUMBUG (You Don't Know Me)

Well if you think I care
You don't know me very well
If you think I have a heart
You don't know me, I can tell

If you believe in peace
You really are stone blind
for you waste my precious days
you leave your task behind

Well if you think I care
You don't know me very well
If you think I have a heart
You don't know me, I can tell

And if you stand up for love
well, you really are stone blind
you, who idle away the hours
pretending to be kind

Well if you think I care
You don't know me very well
If you think I have a heart
You don't know me, I can tell

A BETTER WAY

I'm sitting in this cold, cold cell with my door ajar
There's a light about the size of a coal, and it won't go far
There's a candle right beside me and it won't warm your heart
I hear the friendly voice of somebody -
why don't you come to my house

You'll find a better way
In another day
When you've found that you haven't slept at all

I’ll walk through the London fog, I'm almost home
The many merchants and the lamplighters in their finest clothes
The curious people with their happy faces, I guess I'm one of them
I wonder how you'll be tonight and how you're made of stone

You'll find a better way
In another day
When you've found that you haven't slept at all

Well let's raise our glasses to the man who puts food on my table
I could be better, I want to tell him; but I'm not able
A very quiet moment fell over my house,
I remind them its Christmas
It didn't seem to matter, it didn't seem to care,
they only know its hard

You'll find a better way
In another day
When you've found that you haven't slept at all

ON THE WINGS OF THE WIND

Yeah, its me, your old partner
I suppose I look a mess
I've been doing some hard traveling
seven years without a rest

On the wings of the wind,
On the wings of the wind,
I've been doing some hard traveling
seven years without a rest

Yeah, its me, you better believe it
if you want to escape my fate
I've made my bed now, I'm lying in it
For you its still not too late

Oh, these chains, oh, these chains
Oh, these chains feel like the weight of the world

Yeah, its me, I'm here to warn you
three ghosts will come to haunt you
listen close my old friend
Its your last chance to make amends

My time is gone
I'm disappearing
you won't be seeing me no more

On the wings of the wind, on the wings of the wind
I've been doing some hard traveling
On the wings of the wind

HE WILL FLY

He will fly before the night is over
He will fly with three ghosts
and he will see

Hallelujah
They will show you
what a true gift
giving can be

So away they will take him higher
Above the snow covered city
Sound asleep

Hallelujah
They will guide you
Through your life as it has been
and could be

Up up away
Up up away
Up up away
through the snow

WHEN TIMES WERE GOOD

Well come along man there's something that I need to show ya
Yes follow me
For your own redemption take heed
Oh rise and walk with me you need to see all you once had
When times were good

Chorus:
When times were good
Once you laughed and you smiled and you danced the night away
And with your lover
You dreamed of all the days you'd spend together-er-er
When times were good

Do you see yourself a young one full of promise
Before you came undone?
Master of your destiny
Not a slave to greed
Well money's made you so unkind
See all the joy you left behind
When times were good

Chorus

Look around at all the smiling faces
Shadows of the ones you left behind
Oh a better group of friends you'll never find
Well you can't go back
Though I know you wish you could
To when times were good

Chorus 2x

Oh boy money's left you so unkind
See all the joy you left behind
When times were good
Is that a tear upon your cheek
Salvation's what you need to seek
For your own good

PROMISE (ALICE'S SONG)

Our promise is an old one
Our promise made when we were young
One kiss then let me go
Things have changed so

I remember so clear
You whispering in my ear
Alice, sweet Alice
In my heart you are always here

Our promise is an old one
Our promise made when
We were poor to be so
Rich in love so long ago

Now I don't know you
Your heart is untrue
Tell me am I reaching you
Tell me I miss you

Ebenezer don't you wish for when we were young
Ebenezer we would dance till the rising sun
In your eyes I was the only one

Now look at you, you've grown cold
Now look at you, you've grown old
Here's the ring that tied me to you
And though it pains me I release you

SEE YOURSELF THROUGH THEIR EYES

Abandoned dreams and disappointment
Haunt the faces of the ones who once loved you
Before you turned your back on them
Your friends and family
And those who needed you
Why are you surprised they lost their faith in you
What did you think they'd do?

See yourself through their eyes
When things got bad
You chose not to notice
While all you had
Went slowly slipping away

The tears of the woman who once loved you
Before you chose riches as your lover
But some they never learn
You made your choices
You can't go back now
Why are you surprised she lost her faith in you
What did you think she'd do?

See yourself through her eyes
When things got bad
You chose not to notice
While all you had
Went slowly slipping away

See the lonely boy sitting at the table
He's been left behind abandoned by his friends
He hides his loneliness behind his pride
And now there's nothing left to hide
He hides his loneliness behind his pride
And now there's nothing left to hide

WHEN THERE'S NOTHING AT ALL

Touch my robe then we'll fly
Look down below and hear that bell
See all those good people in their finest clothes
Rushing to the churches
closing the doors on the rest of these poor souls

Scrooge can you see it they have smiles on their faces
See their lack of wealth they have something to share
Spirit of Christmas is more than you can see
The gist of it is giving and then waiving the fee

Its amazing how strong the spirit can be
Scrooge when there's nothing at all you can still be free

Now can you hear that, this room's full of laughter
Your nephew is here and he wishes you well
They all seem to mock him for the good wishes that he sends
They think that your a cheap old man
who will be mean until the end

It's amazing how stubborn the spirit can be
Scrooge when there's nothing at all you can still be free

Scrooge you have it all but your still not free
Still not free - You will be free

BAD, BAD MAN

Don't worry about a thing
It's gonna be alright
We'll all be together
We'll be happy tonight

You don't buy it
He's a bad, bad man

Well don't we look good
Don't we look bright
We'll all be together
We'll be happy tonight

You don't buy it
He's a bad, bad man

Let's raise our glasses
Have a cup of cheer
Come gather 'round
It's that time of the year

You don't buy it
He's a bad, bad man

GOD BLESS US EVERYONE (Tiny Tim's Song)

When the world is feeling cold and the sky more grey than blue
And the snow it seems to fall heavy heartedly on you
Time to count your blessings though seemingly but few
Time to take a look at what's within and without you
For health is more than walking
And wealth much more than gold
But kindness overwhelming as a gentle hand to hold

So "God Bless Us, Everyone!" with the riches of the soul
And may hopelessness ne'er be the demon darkening our door

When the world is feeling cold and the sky more grey than blue
And the snow it seems to fall heavy heartedly on you
Remember when you see us: the hungry, lame, the meek
Who would feed us, heal us, keep us is the same one that you seek
For joy is more than dancing
Good cheer much more than wine
But love is all enfolding as beholding hearts entwined

So "God Bless Us, Everyone!"...

When the world is feeling cold and the sky more grey than blue
And the snow it seems to lie heavy heartedly on you
To the counting house of blessings may we often chance to stray
And in company together spend many's the night and day

And "God Bless Us, Everyone!"...

THE MEN WHO TOIL

Roll away, and dig the deeps
We are the men who toil
In spite of season, wind and heat
Of salt water, or of soil

May your year be full of wonder
May your mates be granted rum
May the mine never devour
My friend, my father, or my son

Dig away, and up the mains'
To the South Seas we're bound
Dig tarry coal to make more rich
The owners of the ships and ground

May your year be full of wonder
May your mates be granted rum
May the mine never devour
My friend, my father, or my son

BEWARE SCROOGE

Down - at my feet
Two children - see
One’s greedy - One’s blind
Beware scrooge beware

Beware Scrooge beware

It's sad - they're freaks
These children of man - they're freaks
Don't need them - don't want them
It's doom - It's doom

Seek love Scrooge seek love

Don't want - just see
Seek love, seek love

FUTURE PARTS I & II

(instrumental with narration by Kenneth Brown)

A TIDY BUNDLE FOR OLD JOE

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ Our Saviour was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray
O Tidings of Comfort and Joy, Comfort and Joy
O Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Old Joe (Kevin Cook):

Come into the parlor friends, you are no strangers here
We're all well-matched to make the most of things that “disappear”
Come Undertaker, Laundress and Charwoman dear
Untie your bundles for Joe, Old Joe
Untie your bundles for Joe

Charwoman (Terry Morrison):

God Rest Him Merry Gentleman, for what He taught to me
Every person for himself was the miser's creed
So open up my bundle, Joe, and price out what you see
A tidy bundle for Joe, Old Joe
A tidy bundle for Joe

Undertaker (Al Brant):

God Rest the Buried Gentleman, I've but a modest poach
A seal or two, a copper case, buttons and a brooch
Alas, my undertakings require discreet approach
A tidy bundle for Joe, Old Joe
Still a tidy bundle for Joe

Laundress (Maria Dunn):

God Rest the Very Gentleman, struck with Death alone
No family or friends to hear his final gasp or moan
So I've borrowed these silver spoons on everlasting loan
A tidy bundle for Joe, Old Joe
A tidy bundle for Joe

Charwoman (Terry Morrison):

God Rest the Very Gentleman, laid in his coffin cold
These bed curtains and blankets won't warm his threadbare soul
His corpse won't know this finest shirt from one of calico
A tidy bundle for Joe, Old Joe
A tidy bundle for Joe
The Four:
God Rest Him Merry Gentleman, let nothing you dismay
We hardly did disturb him where upon the bed he lay
To take these few and useful things as years of meagre pay
A tidy bundle for Joe, Old Joe
A tidy bundle for Joe, Old Joe
A tidy bundle for Joe

HIGHER PLACE

Looking through a kind of window
See the family wait
They put a boy upon his shoulders
He wouldn't be so late

Going to a higher place
We must carry on

Somebody cold is at the door
Hurry now, let's get the tea
Some little family gatherings
will follow me and make me see

Going to a higher place
We must carry on

You'll have to push him up the stairs
Make sure he doesn't fall
Sit him down beside the boy
Take him after all

Going to a higher place
We must carry on

FUTURE PART III

(instrumental with narration by Kenneth Brown)

DOWN ON MY KNEES, OH JACOB

Down on my knees,
Old Jacob, on my knees
I say it on my knees,
Old Jacob, on my knees
Glory Hallelujah!
Praise Heaven
& Christmas Time
Down on my knees,
Old Jacob, on my knees

I am not dead,
Old Marley, No I'm not dead
I am not dead,
Old Marley, No I'm not dead
I'm as light as a feather,
I'm as giddy as a drunken man
I am not dead,
Old Marley, No I'm not dead

It's Christmas Day,
Jacob Marley,
It's Christmas Day,
It's Christmas Day,
Jacob Marley,
It's Christmas Day,
I'm as happy as an angel,
I'm as merry as a school boy
Christmas time, Old Jacob,
It's Christmas Time

SCROOGE'S JIG (or The Maid's Bewilderment)

Oh me! the old bugger is out of his head
For he's singing and dancing right out of his bed
Oh, what a horrible, wonderful sight
He must had a terrible night
Oh, he must have had quite the night!

Nightcap and nightshirt and bedding askew
Something exciting has happened to you
Who would have thunk it--you're old and you're mean
You must have had some kind of dream
Oh, he must have had quite a dream!

A tight-wad of epic proportion 'tis known
It's easier done getting blood from a stone
Now here he is bent on a charity spree
It must be because it's tax-free
Oh, he must have found out it's tax-free!

Now, is this the cruelest joke of all
Or a miracle at last
That London's foul, most famous scowl
Could have melted away so fast?

Oh me! the old bugger is out of his head
For he's singing and dancing right out of his bed
Mildly demented, but feeling no pain
He must have been born again
Oh, he's some kind of born again!

BOB CRATCHIT'S RAISE

GOD BLESS US EVERYONE (REPRISE)