Cold White Christmas

Cap & gown in purple & gold You're 22 years old & a woman now you're told Aunt Beth & Charlie cut a check for the graduating niece & you marked your independence with a signature on a lease But home was a photograph you taped to your wall It's gonna be a cold white Christmas in St Paul Beer for breakfast who's gonna scold You've got your early hours dulled by the cigarettes you rolled Second shift as a fry cook that's your holiday in grease & you trudge to work through the snow in a coat down to your knees & you linger at the twinkle lights as you pass by the mall & count the days to a cold white Christmas in St Paul Feather down the nights get so cold & you ignore the smell of mold as you smooth out the folds When you're on your own you've got no one to please In a Minnesota city just as bare & as mean as the winter trees But you'll be damned if you're the one making collect calls On a cold white Christmas in St Paul Yeah it's a cold white Christmas in St Paul