Gettin’ together to smile an’
rejoice,
An’ eatin’ an’ laughin’ with
folks of your choice;
An’ kissin’ the girls an’
declarin’ that they
Are growin’ more beautiful day
after day;
Chattin’ an’ braggin’ a bit
with the men,
Buildin’ the old family circle
again;
Livin’ the wholesome an’
old-fashioned cheer,
Just for awhile at the end of
the year.
Greetings fly fast as we crowd
through the door
And under the old roof we
gather once more
Just as we did when the
youngsters were small;
Mother’s a little bit grayer,
that’s all.
Father’s a little bit older,
but still
Ready to romp an’ to laugh
with a will.
Here we are back at the table
again
Tellin’ our stories as women
an’ men.
Bowed are our heads for a
moment in prayer;
Oh, but we’re grateful an’
glad to be there.
Home from the east land an’
home from the west,
Home with the folks that are
dearest an’ best.
Out of the sham of the cities
afar
We’ve come for a time to be
just what we are.
Here we can talk of ourselves
an’ be frank,
Forgettin’ position an’
station an’ rank.
Give me the end of the year
an’ its fun
When most of the plannin’ an’
toilin’ is done;
Bring all the wanderers home
to the nest,
Let me sit down with the ones
I love best,
Hear the old voices still
ringin’ with song,
See the old faces unblemished
by wrong,
See the old table with all of
its chairs
An’ I’ll put soul in my
Thanksgivin’ prayers.
