"One Winter's Night" lyrics

I come to you now with ink and quill
To commit my soul by my own free will
For if I don't care to climb that hill
And tell my tale, nobody will
(One winter's night, long ago)

They were wide awake in the carriage house and I
Snuck to the window like a stable mouse
Now I can't forget and my hair's gone white
The things I saw in the flickering light
(One winter's night, long ago)

They were all in the kitchen and the drink did flow
There was Bing and Dean on the radio
The wind did howl, they will send below
They were safe and sound from the ice and snow

And on the windowsill by the candle's glow
I could see an old cat calico
A bowl of cloves and pistachios
A bow on a thistle and some mistletoe
(One winter's night, long ago)

Once I surveyed the scene I made my haste
Up to the chimney without a trace
For the sand runs fast at a rabbit's pace
And it's Christmas Eve, no time to waste

I crept past the kitchen on the tip of my toes
Straight to the parlor where the pine tree glows
A string of socks lined up in rows
I was followed by that old cat calico
(One winter's night, long ago)

There in the house of the familyhood
They had nine little babes and they'd all been good
I was carrying more than an old man should
Nine little kittens made out of wood

As I knelt beneath that Christmas tree and spread the
Gifts out quietly
All at once so suddenly
I found myself with company
(One winter's night, long ago)

His presence shocked and bothered me
For I must work in secrecy
But there he was, all shadowy
His features cloaked in mystery
His voice was low and pillowy
As he offered his apology
"Do not fear" he said to me
And "pardon my proximity"
"My name is Arthur Hood" he said
"But you can call me Art instead"
"I built the floor upon which we tread"
"And I built the roof up over head"
"And much like you, I am seldom seen
Rarely want to intervene"
"I fix things up and I keep things clean
Catching leaks and mending screens"
"And I always felt that you and I were of one fate to occupy
Pleased to meet you eye-to-eye"
And he wished me well then he said goodbye
(One winter's night, long ago)

It was time to go for the bells did ring
I had a list of lists about a thousand things
That's one song I shall not sing
For the eye must leave what the silence brings
(One winter's night, long ago)

I was heading for the chimney just as slow as I could
When I saw on the mantle carved into the wood
Six little words that would shiver me good:
"In loving memory of Arthur Hood"
(One winter's night, long ago)
In loving memory of Arthur Hood
(One winter's night, long ago)
(One winter's night, long ago)
(One winter's night, long ago)