Christmas in the Garage

December's in the driveway, frost on the pane That garage light's burning late again You say don't get me nothing, same line every year Then you disappear past supper when the coast is clear Cold hands on the hand plane, radio down low Pine dust in the lamplight like your own private snow We all act surprised on Christmas Day But we know where the magic's made It's Christmas in the garage, Dad Sawdust on your sleeve You build us all the morning Then you hide behind the tree You say you don't need nothing So hear this, loud and plain — You're the gift, old man, you always were We're just saying it out loud this year There's a breadboard for your daughter, cut from county oak A fixed-up red tricycle and a hinge you smoothed with soap Your cocoa's gone cold by the vise, you never drank a drop Too busy sanding corners so no little hand gets caught Every tag says Santa, never says your name We're done playing along with that game It's Christmas in the garage, Dad Sawdust on your sleeve You build us all the morning Then you hide behind the tree You say you don't need nothing So hear this, loud and plain — You're the gift, old man, you always were We're just saying it out loud this year Someday some grandkid's gonna ask us Where'd this rocking horse come from? We'll walk them past the workbench, say A good man made it, with cold hands and love It's Christmas in the garage, Dad Sawdust on your sleeve You built us every morning We hung waiting on the tree You never asked for nothing So take this anyway — You're the gift, old man, you always were Merry Christmas — now come in from the cold Leave the light on, leave the shavings where they lay The best thing in this house came out of that garage