Last Christmas at Lennel House
Lyrics
It’s Christmastime at Lennel House, snow lies in the grounds
While all at home can celebrate, the care staff do their rounds
And they’re paid an extra fiver on top of their minimum pay
To show the boss is generous on this giving day
The residents are rising to another lonely morn
The old, demented and infirm, the forgotten and forlorn
They hang the paper streamers they made the other day
Remembering their childhood whilst forgetting yesterday
So hark the Lennel angels sing
Sing out one last time
For the lonely souls who’ll never know
Another Christmastime
Martha feeds the birds, her one daily routine
No-one should have to see the things this gentle soul has seen
Jen’s liquid lunch of turkey is dribbling down her chin
Marjorie just looks confused, not knowing where to begin
So hark the Lennel angels sing
Sing out one last time
For the lonely souls who’ll never know
Another Christmastime
Their families sip sweet sherry underneath the Christmas tree
Wishing they could hurry home to a place they’d rather be
While the One Man Music Hall strikes up a song of Christmas cheer
While Alex shouts for Johnny Cash, that’s what he’d like to hear
After tea they sit in silence in the Common Room
The same four walls they always see close in like a tomb
While ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ plays on the TV screen
They can reflect on their own lives and all that they might have been
So hark the Lennel angels sing
Sing out one last time
For the lonely souls who’ll never know
Another Christmastime
Bring them joy and peace at last
On their last Christmastime
(Gary Miller)
© 2012 Whippet Records
Copyright Control MCPS/PRS
Gary performing to residents and their famillies at Lennel House Care Home during the D-Day celebration event he organised there in July 2008.
Notes
Gary contributed this song to Bridge & Bauble, a charity CD project on behalf of The Berwick Youth Project, featuring a collection of songs for Christmas 2012, specially written and recorded by various artrists.
The song is based on Gary's own personal experiences and observations from when he spent a period of 9 months in 2008 working as 'Activities Coordinator' at Lennel House Care Home, near Coldstream in the Scottish Borders.
Releases (on Whippet Records unless otherwise stated)
