The joke's on the Christmas tree, New Year's is here

The king of the living room's out on his ear

You take back the gifts that you laid at his feet

And you drag the old tannebaum out to the street



We took back the star that he thought was his crown

We packed up in papers his bright-colored gown

The lights and the ornaments back on the shelf

His majesty now can take of himself



Chorus:

And it's nay, nay, nay never

Nay nay never no more

Shall he stay green forever

He's evergreen no more



In a ditch by the roadside he dies like a dog

What once was the Christmas tree now is a log

Broken brown branches half-buried in snow

Are bones of a hero one Christmas ago



Chorus



But if you look closely, it's easy to see

A tangle of tinsel is caught in the tree

That one badge of honour is all that remains

Of those glorious Christmas tree evergreen days



Chorus