WHEN THE CAROLS FADE
WHEN THE CAROLS FADE
CHRISTMAS, ONCE AGAIN, IS HERE
BRINGING TIDINGS OF GOODWILL
BUT WHEN THE CAROLS FADE AWAY
THE BATTERED ONES ARE WITH US
STILL
THEY ROAM THE COLD AND FRIENDLESS
STREETS
SEARCHING FOR A GRAIN OF CHEER
REFLECTED IN THEIR HOPELESS EYES
ARE ALL THE THINGS WE HATE AND FEAR
HOMELESS AND ABANDONED
THEY’RE SOCIETY’S RESIDUE
BUT IF YOU LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER
YOU’LL SEE SOMEONE JUST LIKE YOU
A LOONEY HERE, A TOONIE THERE
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STREET
CAN MEAN, TO THEM, THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN NOTHING AND A TREAT
SO GIVE A LITTLE HERE AND THERE
AS YOU GO ALONG YOUR WAY
BLESS YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS
AND HAVE A MERRY Christmas DAY.
WILLIAM BEDFORD
