From the Salmon

This week’s song is from a brilliant songwriter who left us way too soon. Dave Carter, who recorded a few wonderful albums with Tracy Grammer, passed away a few years ago. But before he did, he penned a song called “American Noel,” which was released on a benefit compilation alongside tracks by Peter Mulvey, Erin McKeown, Richard Shindell and others. Ordinarily, I’d be very wary of a Christmas song with America in the title, but this one is a beauty.

“American Noel”
by Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer
from the Wonderland compilation

Three wise men
Riding hard through the cold
Lost on some big city street
With no place warm to go
They are looking for a manger
Or a sign in the lights
But they’re a long way from Bethlehem tonight

But they heard about a savior
And a preacher in the park
Who will camp with the homeless
Where they shiver in the dark
He’ll deliver salvation
To the weary and the cold
And he’ll bring joy joy joy to the wandering soul

The cleaning lady sighs
As she closes up the gate
‘Cause this job don’t quite pay the bills
And she’s always working late
But all in a moment
Comes a light from above
It’s an angel speaking words of joy and love

And he tells her of a savior
And a preacher in the park
Who will camp with the homeless
Under bridges in the dark
He’ll deliver salvation
To the weary and the cold
And he’ll bring joy joy joy to the wandering soul

Four in the morning
At the Tradewinds Motel
The register reads “all full up”
And the clerk thinks just as well
But out in the tool shed
‘Round an old Coleman lamp
A little family makes its meager camp

The Wise Men bring presents
And the angels gather ‘round
The cleaning lady slips in through the door without a sound
And an old black dog
Looks on with the rest
At the little babe upon his mother’s breast

And there comes a savior
And a preacher in the park
And he camps with the homeless
Where they shiver in the dark
He delivers salvation
To the weary and the cold
And he brings joy joy joy to the wandering soul
And he brings joy joy joy to the wandering soul

Purchase “Wonderland” at Signature Sounds
Purchase “Wonderland” at Paste Music

What songs reflect the joy of Advent to you?