Story Behind The Song

This is my story: 98 percent true. Only the boy's age has been changed.

Song Description

This is the story of a boy, an unexpected Christmas Eve snowfall and the grandfather who meant so much to him.

Lyrics

That Christmas
Mack Reynolds
ASCAP MEMBER: #6806467
IPI: #1153444868
Publisher Name: MackSongs

That Christmas
V1 - A
I'm standing on the sidewalk... our old house on Echols Drive G D
Snowflakes falling on my face Em C
And as they melt, my thoughts dissolve to back when I was nine G D
That Christmas when Grandpa... passed away Em C

V1 - B
Mini-white-out on the 24th - unheard of to this day Am7 D7
So, I biked off to Jimmy's spraying snow G D
And as the screen door slammed, I heard my father say, "Boy... C D
Shovel off that drive before you go" Am7/E D7
M-m-m-m... m-m-m-m-m C D

V2 - A
Me and Jimmy... we built snowmen, played Yankees vs Rebs G D
Heaved cannonballs until our hands were numb Em C
And clearing off that driveway didn't once enter my head G D
Until I heard that fire engine come Em C

V2 - B
My Grandpa farmed tobacco... long days in the field Am7 D7
Laid every brick where he and grandma lived G
So, shoveling a little snow... weren't that big a deal C D
But took more... than his heart had to give Am7/E D
M-m-m-m... m-m-m-m-m C D

V3 - A
There were phone calls, neighbor visits... Mom baked a lot of bread... Me G D
I cried for wrecking Christmas Day Em C
'till my kid sister hugged me... said she hoped Grandpa'd meet... G D
... Jesus... in time to celebrate Em C

V3 - B
40 Christmas Eves have passed - only two or three brought snow Am7 D7
I come back here when I have the time G D
Though no one ever spoke of... what they all had to know C D
That don't mean it doesn't cross my mind Am7/E D7

Instrumental

V4 - A
'Cause I remember Grandpa taught me to drive his old John Deere G D
Shoot tin cans off that fence behind his pond Em C
Make silver dollars vanish... then pull 'em from my ear G D
And I'm grateful... those memories live on Em C

V4 - B
I learned how life is precious... no one knows how long we get Am7 D7
I try to make that old man proud each day G
'Cause not a season passes that I don't feel regret C D
For that Christmas... when Grandpa passed away Am7 D7
M-m-m-m... m-m-m-m-m C D

V1 - A (Reprise)
I'm standing on the sidewalk... our old house on Echols Drive G D
Snowflakes falling on my face Em C
And as they melt, my thoughts dissolve to back when I was nine G D
That Christmas... when Grandpa passed away Em C
That Christmas... when Grandpa passed away G D C G

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