Story Behind The Song

Though it is not meant to be autobiographical, it reflects a certain longing for a past that never was , a fantasy of what might be and a dawning realization that the love sought is inside. A woman coming home stands outside the window looking in at the place she left behind. She longs to go in but is afraid until she realizes that the love within her is the healing and that she will, she must try and go in.

Song Description

At first she is afraid to knock even considering leaving without doing so, knowing that she hurt people she left behind for selfish reasons. She was too young to be a mother even though she was one and so she ran. As she looks into the window the longing sense of possibility returns. She is 'haunted by the ghost of Christmas Past' and asks, what does it mean this evergreen scene. Then she sees her little girl dancing with her father and her heart breaks open. Tears stream and she knows that she is capable of love, and must at least try to go in. To find forgiveness and love that she now realizes is inside her own heart.

Lyrics

The Gift of Christmas

V1
Shivering cold outside I gaze through the window
Of the place where I used to live
It looks so warm inside and yet I know
I can knock but I cannot go in
V2
Said stability was not the way for me
I wanted a life that was more exciting.
Didn't want a family, loved being free
Though home looks inviting on a cold night like this

Chorus
Haunted by the ghost of Christmas past I ask,
What does it mean this evergreen scene?
It touches me so
I wonder if I can ever love again
And find the gift of Christmas that I lost.

V3
I see my little girl in an excited twirl
Dancing with her dad, she looks so happy.
She grabs a candy cane and then they whirl again
Their world looks so complete and oh so sweet... so sweet.

Chorus
Haunted by the ghost of Christmas past I ask,
What does it mean this evergreen scene?
It touches me so
I wonder can I go back home again
And find the gift of Christmas that I lost.

Bridge
Maybe it's time to stop my roaming
Maybe if I knock they'll let me in
And I may just die, if I don't give it a try
And the teardrops they are falling from my eyes
the teardrops they are fallin'

Chorus
Haunted by the ghost of Christmas past.
I asked, "What does it mean this evergreen scene?
It touched me so.
I know that I never stopped loving
and I find the gift of Christmas in my heart.  
Love was there inside me from the start.
That is the gift of Christmas