well i walked to town in the pouring rain paid my fare and i rode that train to the station under the avenue hit the air at the stroke of noon at the cross streets where i staked my claim i played in tune with the winter rain collecting dimes and dollar bills while the noisy traffic played the fills and it s christmas time in the city when the air is filled with cheer and the storefronts look this pretty only once a year well the vendors huddled and the taxis honked as i played for change beneath the neon clock was dressed up looking like a christmas tree blinking down on that busy street when the crowd thinned out and the rain had quit and my fingers felt cold and stiff i took their money and i closed my case and i headed back towards home again and it s christmas time in the city when the air is filled with cheer and the storefronts look this pretty only once a year as i walked back to the subway stairs i had twenty eight dollars in change for fare there was an old bag lady with an outstretched hand and a small salvation army band playing angels we have heard on high the first noel and o holy night i folded up one dollar bill and i tucked it down into the till and it s christmas time in the city when the air is filled with cheer and the storefronts look this pretty only once a year and it s christmas time in the city when the air is filled with cheer and the storefronts look this pretty only once a year and it s christmas time in the city