The first time

I was reading through some older posts today, and I came across these special words. I remember the night I wrote these words and how they just poured out onto the page faster than I could put them in order. It’s rare when that happens, at least for me. This piece was, and still is, very special to me. This goes back to 2000 and the first time I saw TSO in concert. One of my favorite poems.

Where did these guys come from and how did they know?

That I wasn’t in the right place, though I knew where to go

 

My path was missing something and I knew it was all wrong

When all of a sudden direction showed up in the form of a song

 

Nobody that I knew had played Christmas songs in this manner before

Wow! It was so beautiful. I had only an idea of what was in store

 

I couldn’t dismiss the shrill of those guitars, so sharp like a knife

Shredding all the familiar notes of the songs I’d loved my whole life

 

My emotions balanced on every note, each one brought me closer to peace

The artist held me in limbo; his fingers played with a master’s ease

 

Holding me there, waiting, for the note I knew was coming next

Without fail the note is played perfect, always better than I expect

 

The sounds are so timely, so crisp, so pure and unrefined                                

Etching new meaning to the words that always play in my mind

 

I feel these emotions; they’ve been building since I was a boy

It’s undeniable, overwhelming, it’s pure Christmas joy

 

As the tunes grew on me I started to focus on each word

Somehow I still managed to avoid all the truths I had heard

 

I took daily struggles and somehow turned them to years

I caused myself and others so many unnecessary tears

 

The music accompanied me everywhere I would go

And though I wandered all over, I never missed a show

 

God’s grace followed me though I made it a most difficult task

I always knew, but ignored, to get help I need only just ask

 

A few years were damaged and I hope not all was waste

Eventually I made my way from that dark and lonely place

 

I keep these memories close to me as tough as they are

It wouldn’t be healing if I didn’t make time to recognize the scar

 

And it wouldn’t be learning if I was to somehow forget

The lessons I have learned and I am not done yet

 

Though the words are familiar they still offer a welcome surprise

Every time I am lucky enough to see TSO live