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On the road the frost is glistenin', people stream from midnight mass,
Friendly candles glow in windows, strangers greet you as you pass;
Home again to the laden table, ham and goose and pints of beer,
Whiskey handed 'round in tumblers, Christmas comes but once a year.
Puddings made with eggs and treakles, seeded raisins and ground suet,
Save the bread crumbs and mixed spices, grated rind and plenty fruit;
Cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg, porter, brandy and old ale,
Don't forget the wine and whiskey, Christmas comes but once a year.
Women fussing in the kitchen, layin' the food on every plate,
Men are patient in the hallway gulpin' porter while they wait;
Who cares if it pours tomorrow, now's the time to spread good cheer,
Pass the punch around the table, Christmas comes but once a year.
Home again to the laden table, ham and goose and pints of beer,
Whiskey handed 'round in tumblers, Christmas comes but once a year.
This song is a shortened variant of Seamus McGrath's song Christmas In Carrick.
This variant recorded by Fine Crowd on Christmas compilation albums by various artists (Christmas In The Harbour, trk#8, 1998, First City Productions, Inc., St. John's, NL, produced by Gary O'Driscoll); and (An Outport Christmas, trk#4, 2007).
A variant was also recorded as Christmas In Carrick by the Clancy Brothers (The Clancy Brothers Christmas, trk#6, 1993, Sony Music Entertainment audio cassette; and 1995, Sony Music Entertainment audio CD).
