A       D       E
        A       D       E
        E       A

Strum Two Verses

        A
         "Bah, humbug!"  No, that's too strong
             A
'Cause it is my favorite holiday
   D
But all this year's been a busy blur
          C                B
Don't think I have the energy

   A
To add to my already mad rush
        A
Just 'cause it 'tis the season.
        D
The perfect gift for me would be
        C                   B
Com     pletions and connections left from

        A
         Last year, ski shop,
   A
Encounter, most interesting.
        D
         Had his number but never the time
        C                     B
         Most of '81 passed along those lines.

   A
So deck those halls, trim those trees
        A
         Raise up cups of Christmas cheer,
        D
         I just need to catch my breath,
        E                  A
         Christmas by my self this year.

        A       A       E       A
        A       A       E       A

        A
         Calendar picture, frozen landscape,
        A
         Chilled this room for twenty-four days,
        D
         Evergreens, sparkling snow
        C                          B
         Get this winter over with!      

                A
Flashback to springtime, saw him again,
        A
         Would've been good to go for lunch,
        D
         Couldn't agree when we were both free.
        C                  B
We tried, we said we'd keep in touch.

        A
         Didn't, of course, 'til summertime,
        A
         Out to the beach to his boat could I join him?
        D
         No, this time it was me,
        C                   B
         Sunburn in the third degree.

        A
         Now the calendar's just one page
            A
And, of course, I am excited.
  D
Tonight's the night, I've set my mind
        E                   A
Not to do too much about it.

        A       A       E       A
        A       A       E       A

        D       D       G       G       D       D       Bm      A
        D       D       G       G       D       D       Bm      A
        D       D       G       G       D       D       Bm      A
        D       D       G       G       D       D       G       Bm      E       Bm

        A                     A
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
        E                         A
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
        A                      A
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
        E                          A
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
        A                      A
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
        E                         A
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
        A                  A
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
        E                      A
But I think I'll miss this one this year.

        A
         Hardly dashing through the snow
        A
         'Cause I bundled up too tight.
        D
         Last minute, had to do
        C              B
A few cards, a few calls,

                 A
Because it's R. S. V. P.
        A
         No thanks, no party lights.
         D
It's Christmas Eve, gonna relax,
        C                   B
         Turned down all of my invites.

        A
Last fall I had a night to myself,
        A
         Same guy called, Halloween party,
        D
         Waited all night for him to show,
        C                  B
         This time his car wouldn't go.

        A
For     get it, it's cold, it's getting late,
        A
         Trudge on home to celebrate
        D
In a quiet way, unwind
        E                A
         Doing Christmas right this time.

        A       A       E       A
        A       A       E       A

        A
         A&P has provided me
             A
With the world's smallest turkey
        D
Already in the oven, nice and hot
        C                   B
Oh damn! Guess what I forgot?

        A
So on with the boots, back out in the snow
        A
To the only all-night grocery,
        D
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
        C                                 B
In the line is that guy I've been chasing all year!

        A
"I'm spending this one alone," he said.
            A
"Need a break; this year's been crazy."
  D
I said, "Me too, but why are you?
             C              B
You mean you forgot cranberries too?"

        A
Then suddenly we laughed and laughed
        A
Caught on to what was happening
        D
That Christmas magic's brought this tale
        E           A
To a very happy ending!

        A       A       E       A
        A       A       E       A

        D       D       G       G       D       D       Bm      A
        D       D       G       G       D       D       Bm      A
        D       D       G       G       D       D       Bm      A
        D       D       G       G       D       D       G       Bm      E       Bm

         A                 A
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
        E                   A
         Couldn't miss this one this year!
        A                   A
Merry Christmas!  Merry Christmas!
        E                       A
         Couldn't miss this one this year!
        A                      A
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
        E                       A
         Couldn't miss this one this year!
        A                       A
Merry Christmas!  Merry Christmas!
        E                       A
         Couldn't miss this one this year!