First Snowfall - Over the Rhine

The Christmas decorations

Look ragged and rusty

A little sooty with coal dust

Santa’s missing an eye

The neon sign flickers

On the cinder block tavern

By the Salvation Army

And the plumbers supply

The old downtown mission

Has John 3:16 painted

In all capital letters

Above cans full of trash

But the paint is all peeling

Broken glass on the sidewalk

Glitters like chandeliers

Somebody smashed

And my soul feels as empty

As a brown paper bag

The drained bottle inside it

Bought with bummed change

40 ounces of liquor

For 30 pieces of silver

And your temporary suicide

Has all been arranged

It’s like an angel starts singing

An old gospel song

In that part of town where

No angel belongs

But what is this music

That falls on my ear

It’s the very first snowfall

Of a very long year

I’m so far from home

And all that’s familiar

Every prodigal knows

How this story goes

Was I just runnin' from what’s

Too dark to mention

Or were angels escorting me

God only knows

So help me Maria

We heard the same call

Our hearts felt as free

As a dove newly flown

When a big city beckons

Ah you just can’t imagine

You’re left with no choice

Yeah, you just have to go

It’s like an angel starts singing

An old gospel song

In that part of town where

No angel belongs

But what is this music

That falls on deaf ears

It’s the very first snowfall

Of a very long year

There’s two stray dogs runnin'

In Newport, Kentucky

They’ve got a secret

No one else knows

This old dirty city

Is cleansed of its sin

We’re all light-hearted lovers

We’re all beautiful beggars

We’re all innocent children

As soon as it snows

It’s like an angel starts singing

An old gospel song

In that part of town where

No angel belongs

But what is this music

Are these God’s silent tears?

It’s the very first snowfall

Of a very long year

It’s the very first snowfall

Of a very long year

It’s the very first snowfall

Of a very long year