“TENNESSEE CHRISTMAS SOIREE”
Wendell Matthews

Part 1:
ON A SNOW FLURRIED NIGHT IN DECEMBER
WAS THE TENNESSEE CHRISTMAS SOIREE
A MOST COVETED INVITATION
PRESENTED THE OLD MONEY WAY

AND THE BALLROOM WAS SALTED TUXEDOS
FINE LADIES IN ELEGANT GOWNS
THE MUSIC PLAYED TRUE TO THE ERA
PEPPERED WITH COURTEOUS BOWS

I WORE COWBOY BOOTS FROM CALIFORNIA
THAT LEANED JUST A BIT TO THE RIGHT
RED HOLIDAY SUSPENDERS
AND JEANS THAT I SLEPT IN ALL NIGHT

IT WAS NOT LOVE THAT COMPELLED ME
HAIR OF THE DOG WAS MY PLIGHT
LAST THING I THOUGHT I’D BE DOING
WAS WRITE A SONG ABOUT THAT NIGHT

Part 2:
SHE WAS A LADY OF SOUTHERN SUN BEAUTY
HER DRESS WAS THE HUE OF A ROSE
SHE MOVED IN A FASHION ALLURING
SEDUCTIVE, YET GRANDLY COMPOSED

HER ESCORT CONSERVED HIS INTRODUCTIONS
HIS MANNER WAS QUITE CAVALIER
I DISTINGUISHED HIM AS AN ACQUAINTANCE
MY SALUTATIONS WERE NEAR

AND WE TALKED ABOUT FOOTBALL AND FAILURE
HOW SHE WAS A BIG FAN OF JOHN PRINE
I TOOK HER TO MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT
AN OLD TRUCK STOP ON THE GRUNDY COUNTY LINE

Part 3:
SHE SAID I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE
THAT EVENTS WILL NOT OCCUR ON TIME
I EXPLAINED HOW STRESS IS SOMETIMES IMAGINATION
LIFE CANNOT BE LIVED IN YOUR MIND

WE DANCED, WE LAUGHED AND WE FLIRTED
AND WE TOUCHED EACH OTHER SOMEHOW
MIGHT HAVE BEEN TRUCK STOP SAUSAGE
OR JOHN PRINE THAT GOT US TO NOW

WE NO LONGER HAVE OUR GIRL KATIE
SHE GOT HERS AND I GOT MINE
I MOVED AWAY TO MURRELLS INLET
SHE STILL COMES TO SEE ME SOMETIME

WE BET, WE LOST, BUT WE COVERED
THEY TOOK EVERYTHING WE HAD
SO WE HELD HANDS IN THE MOMENT
NOBODY EVER GOT MAD

ON THAT SNOW FLURRIED NIGHT IN DECEMBER
AT THE TENNESSEE CHRISTMAS SOIREE