Winter Song

When winter's shadowy fingers

First pursue you down the street

And your boots no longer lie

About the cold around your feet

Do you spare a thought for summer whose passage is complete?

Whose memories lie in ruins

And whose ruins lie in heat?

When winter...

Comes howling in

When the wind is singing strangely

Blowing music through your head

And your rain splattered windows

Make you decide to stay in bed

Do you spare a thought for the homeless tramp who wishes he was dead?

Or do you pull the bed-clothes higher

Dream of summertime instead?

When winter...

Comes howling in

The creeping cold has fingers

That caress without permission

And mystic crystal snowdrops

Only aggravate the condition

Do you spare one thought for the gypsy with no secure position?

Who's turned and spurned by village and town

At the magistrate's decision?

When winter...

Comes howling in

When the turkey's in the oven

And the Christmas presents are bought

And Santa's in his module

He's an American astronaut

Do you spare one thought for Jesus, who had nothing but his thoughts?

Who got busted just for talking

And befriending the wrong sorts?

When winter...

Comes howling in

When winter...

Comes...

Howling...

In