When I Come Home on Christmas Eve

One cold December night

It was cold as it could be

I pulled into a diner

Out by Laurel, Tennessee

The parking lot was empty

Except for just one rig

I was starving and tired

Looking for a place to sit

I sat down at the counter

Ordered flapjacks and a Coke

Started chatting with a fella

We exchanged a few jokes

He started talking about his family

Who he hadn't seen in years

And then his voice got real shaky

And his eyes filled up with tears

He said "They'll be singing Christmas carols

Pretty as can be

Putting that Ole star

Atop that Christmas tree

Man, it'll have been 15 years

Since my brother seen me

When I show up on Christmas Eve

He said Granny's gone now

But Pappy's still around

And my brother and his family

Just moved back from Puget Sound

Sis lives next to Mama

And my Pop's retired now

And this year has been the first

That they've all been in town

Missed a lot of things

Since I joined in 93

No one knows I'm coming

Kept it quiet as can be

Can't wait to see the faces

When I show up suddenly

My mama's gonna cry

Because I am her baby

They will be so surprised

To finally see me

When I show up on Christmas Eve

I'm gonna finally get to see

My whole family

When I show up on Christmas Eve

I can't wait for Christmas Eve

Yeah, I can't wait for Christmas Eve

I'll be home for Christmas Eve