Once A Year

Tuesday, Dec. 20 1977. At church the previous Sunday, I had heard a sermon that discussed reasons why Christmas is celebrated in December. Though the details of the sermon have long been forgotten, I remember a section that discussed whether it is a coincidence that Christmas is celebrated so close to the winter solstice - the shortest and darkest day of the year (in the Northern hemisphere, at least).

Some people point to attempts made to ascertain the actual birthday of Jesus. Others refer to a possible form of 'competition' with the Pagan celebration of the winter solstice. As I listened, I was drawn to the juxtaposition that the idea of Christmas and the human hopes for a new child and a better world fit perfectly with the natural phenomenon of longer, brighter, warmer days.

I had started writing songs earlier in the year and spent a lot of time scribbling possible lyrics on napkins at Friendly's while I drank tea. Other times, I would write while playing guitar at home. Some songs developed over days, weeks, or even months of fiddling around with them. However, on this day, the chords, the rhythm, and the words flowed out quickly. Intrigued by thoughts of better times arriving after experiencing the darkest, shortest day of winter, a theme emerged and was captured in this song.

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Once A Year

Electronic candles and turbocharged sleighs
Pulse through my heart as it ticks off the days.
There's shopping to do and lines in to stand.
Want to feel great? Just lend a hand.

    Christmas come in the in darkness of winter.
    Christmas brings with it faith, hope, and cheer.
    Christmas comes to us saint and sinner.
    Christmas comes only once a year.

Think not of loss, think of all we've been given.
Think not of gain, that's no reason for living.
Snow-covered pathways, please don't block my view.
It makes me glad to be thinking of you.

    Christmas come in the in darkness of winter.
    Christmas brings with it faith, hope, and cheer.
    Christmas comes to us saint and sinner.
    Christmas comes only once a year.

Star grabs my eyes as I look to the skies.
I see no lies as the universe ties
Together the strings of life that we know.
Toward the new year we move; we progress past the snow.

    Christmas come in the in darkness of winter.
    Christmas brings with it faith, hope, and cheer.
    Christmas comes to us saint and sinner.
    Christmas comes only once a year.

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Whatever you believe or don't believe about Christmas, I hope you find your own prospects for the better days that can come from the darkness of winter.

Best wishes for 2010 and beyond.

- John -

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Once A Year
Copyright 1977-79 John E. Arnold.
All Rights Reserved.