Holiday Lyrics - James Mcmurtry

The in-laws are waiting the games have begun 

The cell phone keeps ringing dont answer it hon 

The whole things arranged just to aggravate Dad 

And its amateur day on the old super slab 

The kids are strapped down like a half load of pipe 

All safe in their car seats they fuss and they gripe 

Well you cant hardly blame em it must be a bitchCounting the crosses off down in the ditch 

This ones got flowers, this ones got a wreath 

This ones got a name painted down underneath 

Was the road all iced up, were they going too fast 

Heres five in a circle left from the last holiday 

Holiday 

Theres a three-trailer rig just a throwin up spray 

Not legal to run on this kind of a day 

But god damn the smokies and the four wheelers too 

Stay offa my bumpers or the same goes for you 

Therell be none for him 

He that wants it the most 

As he hauls it on out to the Oregon coast 

No turkey no gravy no Zinfandel wine 

You just stay over right and well get along fine 

Hes missing the football, missing the fun 

Hed play with the grandkids but hes off on a run 

And some hats on the radio singing his song 

But it dont make a damn 

Hes in for a long holiday 

Holiday 

Now granny shes yelling 

Shes ready to eat 

Shes havin conniptions 

Cause they wont take their seats 

But shes got em all gathered now under one roof 

With her camcorder loaded 

Shes gonna get proof 

But do you have to wear that 

Well I just dont see why 

Please pass the potatoesAw eat shit and die 

Did you hear about Ellen, shes leaving, you know 

How bout those Packers, think itll snow? 

And the minute its over theyll scatter like quail 

Off down the freeway in the teeth of a gale 

Silent and shattered And numb to the core 

They count themselves lucky 

They got through one more holiday 

Holiday 

The highway patrolman 

He stands in the rain 

He just lets it run down to soften the stain 

Of the blood on his pant leg 

From working that wreck 

And he wont forget it 

In time for the next holiday 

Departing Chicago at 9:52 

In clean desert camo all baggy and loose 

Sits an Iowa Guardsman alone by the gate 

The place sure looked different, in 1968 

When he traveled with mom, first time on a plane 

To visit some kin, hes forgotten their names 

But he remembers the soldiers, still in their teensIn their spit polished boots and their pressed army greens 

With the creases so sharp, and their faces so smooth 

But their eyes looked so heavy, he wondered how they could move 

Now hes got that same look, like his insides are black 

Hes in his mid forties and he has to go backAnd he cant even smoke while he waits for his plane 

The uniforms different, but the mission remains 

To do like they tell you, dont make a fuss 

Whys not an issue, so dont think too much 

You just do what you have to, shut up and drive 

If you come apart later, well at least youre alive 

You can get you some help, you can deal with it then 

And life will be better, til it happens again 

Cause theres something inside us that wont let us beIn stalks through our days til its too dark to see 

And its damn near as deadly as Texans on ice 

Lord dont they beat all 

Yall have a nice holiday