"Just a quiet, quiet man..."

Song Description

At Christmas time a long lost father is reunited with his son and saves him from a house fire.

Song Length 6:30 Genre Spoken Word - General, Rock - Religious
Tempo Medium (111 - 130) Lead Vocal Male Vocal
Mood Poignant Subject Father, Gratitude
Language English Era 2000 and later

Lyrics

"Just a quiet, quiet man..."

It was late that night as I left the site.
But I wished, "Merry Christmas" to Fred.
Just a quiet, oldish man, in a plain old working coat,
Who cleaned round the yards and the shed.
And since it was time to be cheery,
And as boss I was last to go,
I paused for a moment to exchange a few words
As we closed up the gates in the snow.

?Just a quiet, quiet man in the same old plain old coat.
The type that would never catch the eye.
Who knows what stories this quiet old man could tell,
Who knows what he thinks or wonders why??

I said, "You going off to your family, Fred?"
And he gave me a very odd stare.
And I realised that I hardly knew him.
This soft spoken man, always there.

I remembered how he arrived one day
when we'd placed some 'Help Wanted' ads.
And now he seemed part of the background.
But reserved, never one of the lads.

And then Fred answered my question.
"No,? he said, ?But I?m used to living alone.
I had a family once, you see, but
I lost my chance for a home."

And then as he saw me curious,
He said, " No one's fault 'part from me.
I was young, and wild, and plain selfish.
I just couldn't settle, you see."

The snow that blew cross the courtyard,
Made me think of my home and my life.
And the wonderful love I had waiting.
Three children and sweet caring wife.
Though it hadn't always been that way
Since I'd grown up not knowing my folks.
But now I had all that I wanted.
I'd worked hard to achieve all my hopes.

It seemed automatic to offer a lift,
And Fred took his seat in my car.
I could tell there were things he wanted to say
But his mind was on places afar.

"So you don't ever see your kin?" I asked,
Then Fred answered with a voice soft and low.
"I still ... I still sometimes see my son.
But I'm not really someone he?d know.
By the time I got round to finding him.
He'd made a complete life of his own.
He's proud. I don't think he'd have much respect
for a father who deserted his home.

Slowly we drove thought the darkness,
As my mind revolved in a trance.
This soft spoken man, this stranger?
Who'd arrived one day. Just by chance?

And then as the doubts were churning,
I braked my car at the sight.
Of my house with rooms that were burning
And smoke that swirled in the light.
Maybe a spark from the fireside
Or a candle, or lights from the tree.
But my wife stood crying in terror,
In her arms, two children not three.

The old oak door was jammed tightly
But it splintered from the force of my shove.
Past the flames I ran up the staircase
To the cries of my daughter above.
With the child in my arms I stumbled,
Found a window framed with red glow,
And hurled my baby to safety
To the arms of the people below.
Then back I turned to the staircase
With the roaring loud in my ear.
Then the smoking floor came to meet me
And I thought that my death would be here.

The light that brought me to wakening
Showed the faces of all those I loved.
Tearful but shining with wonder.
And I blessed the dear heavens above.

But as neighbours helped me to stand I could see
An inferno of flames smoke and sound,
And in doubt I faltered a question.
Till one pointed to "him" on the ground.

"That man, he dragged you out. Who was he?
Your friend. My God he was brave."
And I stumbled over to the covered up form
So frail now, so helpless, so grave.

And I knelt by the dying man to say thanks.
As his eyes flickered their last.
Then he smiled up at me, through the pain, and said,
"It's all right son. Now I've paid, for the past."
-------------------------------------------


Copyright Desmond O?Keeffe. Felixstowe. 2004. All rights reserved.


Lyrics Desmond O'Keeffe Music Desmond O'Keeffe. Dave Standring
Producer Desmond O'Keeffe Publisher Desmond O'Keeffe
Performance Desmond O'Keeffe Label Desmond O'Keeffe

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