CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS MEMORIES 2007 - SLAUGHTER MOUNTAIN

James Michael Taylor

Palmdale, California. 1950. 15th Street East.
CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Take me back to California on that sunny Christmas morn.
Christmas there was different on those Mojave Desert nights
No snow and not much money for sharp clothes and hunting knives
In fact we got a lot of tooth paste and clothes we’d done warn out
Once I unwrapped a can of Pork ’n Beans. I said, “Holy cow!”

Then Dad would turn to Mom and see the twinkle in her eye
And he almost broke out laughing when John unwrapped his old bow tie
It was an instant disappointment. Enough to ruin your year
Somehow we rose above it all and we’re all still glad to be here

Take me back to California, to that Christmas sunshine warm

California Christmas memories where my expectations formed
Just me and my two brothers and a happy dad and mom
Take me back to California an that sunny Christmas morn

Dad had a sense of humor and he had a narrow smile
He made the best of what we had. Sometimes it got real wild
One time he took two mattresses and made a trampoline.
John and I would jump off the roof on the count of three
Well, I’d jump off. John was what wee called a fraidy cat.
He’d say, “Two and a quarter. Two and a half. Two and three quarters…”
He’s bigger than me now but he’s still a fraidy cat

Take me back to California on a sunny Christmas morn
My dad he had his theories about what matters in this world
It doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or if you’re a girl
Inside we’re all the same so we might as well be having fun
“Cause once to take of the wrapping the guessing is all done

And my daddy had his theories about holidays and things
It wasn’t how many quail you kill. It was all about the bang.
Ond once the presents are opened and the living room is clean
The wrappin’s what it’s allabout in that desert Christmas scene

Take me back to California, to that Christmas sunshine warm
California Christmas memories where my expectations formed
Just me and my two brothers and a healthy dad and mom
Take me back to California an that sunny Christmas morn

(C) 2007 Royal T Music