Intro: verse 1 Well I walked to town in the pouring rain Paid my fare and I rode that train To the station under the avenue Hit the air at the stroke of noon At the cross streets where I staked my claim I played in tune with the winter rain Collecting dimes and dollar bills While the noisy traffic played the fills And its Christmas time in the city When the air is filled with cheer And the storefronts look this pretty only once a year verse 2 Well the vendors huddled and the taxis honked As I played for change beneath the neon clock I was dressed up looking like a Christmas tree Blinking down on that busy street When the crowd thinned out and the rain had quit And my fingers felt cold and stiff I took their money and I closed my case And I headed back towards home again And its Christmas time in the city When the air is filled with cheer And the storefronts look this pretty only once a year verse 3 As I walked back to the subway stairs I had twenty eight dollars in change for fare There was an old bag lady with an outstretched hand And a small Salvation Army band Playing Angels We Have Heard on High The First Noel and O Holy Night I folded up one dollar bill And I tucked it down into the till And its Christmas time in the city When the air is filled with cheer And the storefronts look this pretty only once a year And its Christmas time in the city When the air is filled with cheer And the storefronts look this pretty only once a year Outro And its Christmas time in the city

Watch the song video
Top songs from Mary Chapin Carpenter
Playground Sessions Course Banner
Did you ever dreamed on playing piano?

Playground Sessions is a revolutionary new way to learn music and play the piano. No more boring courses. The adaptive videos automatically adjust to your skill level. Plus, you’ll receive regular feedback on your progress each week, plus a personal training plan from a professional piano teacher.

Start to play the piano instantly - and have fun doing it!