THE BALLAD OF CHRISTMAS EVE
By T.C. Lyster
It was Christmas Eve in Elko
And the town was lit up bright.
The casino lights were blazing
And the place was dusted white.
But the slot machines were silent
And the tables empty now.
Thirsty cowboys and the miners
Had all disappeared somehow.
Things were quiet down at Mona’s
All the girls were in the back.
Not a man was there amongst them.
No, not even Billy Jack.
For poor Billy was in cow-camp
On the mountain all alone,
In a little one room cabin
Without power or a phone.
He had no-one there to talk to
In that far-off lonely place,
‘Cept when looking out the window
where he’d see a whiskered face.
Now this face was strangely silent,
‘Cause it never answered back
to the questions Billy asked it
in that lonely mountain shack.
But that didn’t bother Billy
When he’d have a little talk
With his pardner in the window
‘Bout the weather or the stock.
But this winter night was special,
It was Christmas Eve, you see,
And poor Billy had no presents
Underneath his Christmas tree.
It sat over in the corner
Of the cabin by the door,
Where beneath it there was nothing
But the bare old wooden floor.
Now old Billy sure was lonesome
On this frosty winter night;
So he walked up to the window
And began to tell his plight.
How he’d spent his life a’ridin’
After cattle near and far;
And a lot of lonely evenings
Drinking whiskey at the bar.
How he’d spent his meager wages
At the tables and on booze;
How the cards all ran against him
And he always seemed to lose.
But he’d always been a cowboy
And a sure-enough top-hand;
There was none that ever questioned
He was riding for the brand.
Well, he rambled on ‘bout wrecks
And near disasters he’d survived;
Of the ranges that he’d ridden,
There were fights that he described.
And he told about his horses,
Both the good ones and the bad,
Of the colts that he had broken
And the rodeos he’d had.
Then he said “I ain’t complaining
‘Bout this lonesome life I’ve led,
but I surely have this question
I would ask before I’m dead:
“Will I ever get to Heaven?
I will try and mend my ways!
Lord, I know I’ve been a sinner.
Will God really forgive strays?”
Then while standing at the window
Looking East so very far,
In the blackness of the night sky
He could see a blazing star.
And it brought to mind the story
That his mother had once read,
From the big, worn, Holy Bible
That she kept beside her bed:
It happened many years ago,
In a land real far away.
A star appeared for guidance
On a very special day.
A couple who were traveling
Found they had no place to stay
And took refuge in a stable,
Where they’d sleep upon the hay.
But soon a single star appeared
Above the barn, so bright.
Three wisemen and some shepherds
Were soon drawn in by the light.
To find a host of angels
Gathered ‘round that pile of hay,
Proclaiming that The King of Kings
Had just been born that day.
And as they crowded nearer
They would all look on in awe
At a newborn swaddled baby
Lying there upon the straw.
His name would be Emanuel,
He is the Prince of Peace.
He’d give his life to save our souls
The Devil’s reign would cease.
Old Billy Jack stood silent,
Thinking back on what he’d heard;
Then the memories started flooding back:
‘Bout the Bible’s Holy Word.
And now he knew the answer,
And it brightened his outlook.
It was there between the covers
Of his mother’s Holy Book.
So, Billy Jack was happy now,
He really did believe,
That Jesus Christ had saved his soul
That lonely Christmas Eve.
