Lyrics

[Verse 1: Paul Simon] From early in November to the last week of December I got money matters weighing me down Oh, the music may be merry, but it's only temporary I know Santa Claus is coming to town [Verse 2: Paul Simon] In the days, I work my day job, in the nights, I work my night But it all comes down to working man's pay Getting ready, I'm getting ready Ready for Christmas Day [Interlude: Reverend J.M. Gates] Getting ready for Christmas Now let me tell you, namely, the undertaker He's getting ready for your body Not only that, the jailer He's getting ready for you Christmas day Hmm? And not only the jailer But the lawyer, the police force Now getting ready for Christmas day And I want you to bear it in mind [Verse 3: Paul Simon] I got a nephew in Iraq, it's his third time back But it's ending up the way it began With the luck of a beginner, he'll be eating turkey dinner On some mountaintop in Pakistan [Chorus: Paul Simon] Getting ready, oh, we're getting ready For the power and the glory and the story of the Christmas day [Interlude: Reverend J.M. Gates] Getting ready, for Christmas day Done made it up in your mind that I'm going New York, Philadelphia, Chicago I'm going, on a trip Getting ready for Christmas day But when Christmas come, nobody knows Where you'll be, you might ask me I may be laying In some lonesome grave Getting ready for Christmas day [Guitar Solo] [Chorus: Paul Simon] Getting ready, oh we're getting ready For the power and the glory and the story of the Christmas day [Post-Chorus: Reverend J.M. Gates & Paul Simon] Yes, we're getting ready, ready (Getting ready, ready for your prayers) I'm going and see my relatives in a distant land Getting ready, getting ready For Christmas day, easy now [Verse 4: Paul Simon] If I could tell my Mom and Dad that the things we never had Never mattered, we were always okay Getting ready, oh, ready Ready for Christmas day [Chorus] Ready, getting ready For the power and the glory and the story of the Christmas day