Story Behind The Song

A MAn goes off to war and leaves his child and wife behind. The story is told from an eigh tyera olds perspective and hi ssimple desire to hav ehi sfather home for christmas. But th eboy is barely old enough to grasp the terrible truth about hi sfathers fate.

Song Description

A young boy is aware that something has gone wrong with his father's stint as a reserveist and is now wishing his father home for Christmas even though he knows he father will not return.

Lyrics

"Home For Christmas"
My name's Mike and I'm a big boy.
February I'll be eight
got this puppy I take care of
and when he's good I let him stay up late

Mamma works at bagg'n groceries
down at Grady's grocery store
Pappa works at loading trailers
he don't work down there no more

I don't want no bike to ride
I don't want no jungle gym
want me Pappa home for Christmas
I just want to hold his hand

sometimes pappa he plays army
just like I do now and then
packs his bags and gets a haircut
couple days he's home again
something happened strange last summer
Momma cried for days on end
said Pappa going to be a soilder
this time boy, it's not pretend

I don't want no bike to ride
I don't want no jungle gym
want me Pappa home for Christmas
I just want to hold his hand

late last night my doorbell's ringing
Mamma moved so awful slow
a feller gave my Mom a letter
shook her hand and turned to go
she place the letter on the table
how my Momma trembled so
I never was too much on read'n
but that don't mean that I don't know

I don't want no bike to ride
I don't want no jungle gym
want me Pappa home for Christmas
I just want to hold his hand

I don't want no bike to ride
I don't want to understand
want me Pappa home for Christmas
I just want to hold his hand

my name's Mike and I'm a big boy.