CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR
As recorded by Chris Isaak
(From the 2022 Album EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S CHRISTMAS)



[Intro]
   


[Verse 1]

Christmas come

s but once a y

ear
              
But you're not

           
 here with me

The holidays b

ring heartache

s now
            
Painful memori

es

You and I were

 so in love
              
But so it seem

    
 to me
              
Christmas come

      
s but once a y

ear
             
And that's too

          
 much for me



[Chorus]
             
Last christmas

         
 eve you left 

me
             
With just two 

              
words you were

 
 free

So long, so lo

ng
             
Sent back that

             
 ring that I b

ought you
            
That was your 

           
present to me


[Verse 2]
  
I didn't send 

out christmas 

cards
              
Or decorate th

  
e tree

Nothing seems 

to matter
              
Since you're n

             
ot here with m

e

I spend my hol

iday at home
              
With thoughts 

           
of used to be
              
Christmas come

      
s but once a y

ear
             
And that's too

          
 much for me


[Guitar Solo]
      


[Chorus]
             
Last christmas

         
 eve you left 

me
             
With just two 

              
words you were

 
 free

So long, so lo

ng
             
Sent back that

             
 ring that I b

ought you
            
That was your 

           
present to me


[Verse 3]

There's no wre

ath on my fron

t door
              
No garland on 

   
my tree

But it could s

till be christ

mas dear
              
If you come ba

      
ck to me

I kept your ri

ng, I kept our

 vows
              
I'm waiting he

      
re to see
              
Christmas come

      
s but once a y

ear
             
When you come 

        
back to me
              
Darling, chris

              
tmas comes but

 
 once a year
             
When you come 

        
back to me


[Outro]