Old Henrys Santa

[Intro] [Verse 1 - Singer 1 (Gruff, Storyteller Tone)] Frost was thick on the window pane Old Man Henry rubbed his eyes again Said he saw it clear as Christmas Day Right there in his yard, then whisked away A flash of red, a jolly laugh so deep Before the vision vanished in his sleep Or was he waking? Couldn't rightly tell But the sight of Santa made his old heart swell. [Chorus - Both Singers (Harmonizing roughly, building intensity)] He saw him! He saw him! Right there in the snow! (Singer 1: Ho! Ho!) Bright red suit and a beard white as the moon's glow! (Singer 2: Ha! Ha!) But when he blinked, just the wind began to blow! (Singer 1: Where'd he go?) And the neighbors said, "Old Henry, time moves slow..." (Singer 2: Time moves slow...) [Verse 2 - Singer 2 (Slightly mocking, representing the townsfolk)] Down at the store, he told it loud and plain To Mrs. Higgins shoveling sleet and rain She shook her head, said, "Henry, check the stove, Too much cheap whiskey's all that you've behove!" The postman chuckled, sorting out the mail, "Santa's at the Pole, beyond the Arctic gale! You're seeing things, old timer, through the haze, Lost in the ghost of childhood's distant days." [Chorus - Both Singers (More forceful, voices starting to strain)] He saw him! He saw him! Right there in the snow! (Singer 1: Believe me!) Bright red suit and a beard white as the moon's glow! (Singer 2: It's true!) But when he blinked, just the wind began to blow! (Singer 1: Gone like smoke!) And the neighbors said, "Old Henry, time moves slow..." (Singer 2: Time moves slow...) [Bridge - Singer 1 (Voice cracking with frustration, building to a near-screech)] It WAS real! I felt the cheer! (Singer 1: Felt it!) The reindeer's hoofprint! Crystal clear! (Singer 1: Right there!) He tipped his hat! A twinkling eye! (Singer 1: Twinkling!) Before he vanished 'neath the sky! (Singer 1: Vanished!) (Singer 1 descends into a raw, wordless vocal SCREECH of anguish and insistence, accompanied by a frantic, dissonant harmonica wail. Singer 2 interjects with short, sharp, mocking "Ha!" sounds.) [Verse 3 - Singer 1 (Voice ragged, desperate, quieter after the outburst)] Now he walks the lane, muttering low To kids who giggle where the drifts lie deep "Keep watch," he whispers, "You might see him leap From chimney top to star, a fleeting spark..." They run off laughing, vanished in the dark. He stamps his boots upon his own porch step The memory b*****g, while the whole town slept. [Chorus - Both Singers (Raw, powerful, voices strained and intertwining, Singer 1 bordering on a scream)] HE SAW HIM! HE SAW HIM! RIGHT THERE IN THE SNOW! (Singer 1: I SAW HIM!) BRIGHT RED SUIT AND A BEARD WHITE AS THE MOON'S GLOW! (Singer 2: HE SAW!) BUT WHEN HE BLINKED, JUST THE WIND BEGAN TO BLOW! (Singer 1: THE WIND!) AND THE NEIGHBORS SAID, "OLD HENRY, TIME MOVES SLOW..." (Singer 2: Moves slow...) (Singer 1 holds the last "SLOW..." note, letting it fray into a final, broken, high-pitched vocal cry that echoes slightly.) [Outro]