Buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman
Buildin’ a snowman in the snow
Roll it up and watch it grow
Carrot for his nose, coal for his eyes
Watch his smile as it starts to rise
Buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman
Soon the sun will come and melt him away
But he’ll keep smiling until that day
Such a shame that ...snowmen ...have ..to... end... that way...
Buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman
I wonder how many I’ve built through the years
Standin’ here now with my child, fightin’ back tears
Thinkin’ ‘bout winters when I was young
Free from worry, the world was fun
Snowball fights and frozen toes
Laughin’ loud as the cold wind blows
Every snowman a little dream come true
And now I’m passin’ that dream to you
Buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman
Buildin’ a snowman in the snow
Roll it up and watch it grow
Carrot for his nose, coal for his eyes
Watch his smile as it starts to rise
Buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman
Soon the sun will come and melt him away
But he’ll keep smiling until that day
Such a shame that ...snowmen ...have ..to... end... that way...
Buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman
Buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ a snowman, buildin’ ...a.... snowman...

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

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Buildin’ A Snowman

The forecast said it’d be a beast
A nor’easter blowin’ in from the east
Christmas Eve, 1966
Snow so thick it’d break your wits
Most of the family lived close by
But we were miles beneath that sky
So we packed the car at morning light
And drove through snow to make it right
Sleepover Christmas, snow piled high
Pajamas on ‘til the stars said goodbye
We slept on couches, floors, and chairs
With love and laughter everywhere
The storm tried hard to steal the day
But Christmas found... a.. better ..way...
Grandpa read the Christmas tale
By the tree light, soft and pale
Luke and Mary, shepherds near
His voice like music we still hear
Grandma cooked like heaven’s grace
Eggs and bacon, pies in place
And dinner came with candle glow
The calmest grown-ups we’d ever know
Sleepover Christmas, snow piled high
Pajamas on ‘til the stars said goodbye
We slept on couches, floors, and chairs
With love and laughter everywhere
The storm tried hard to steal the day
But Christmas found... a.. better ..way...
The men went out to shovel snow
And throw a few for fun, you know
We watched from windows, warm and wide
With cocoa cups and sleepy pride
And though the roads were buried deep
That night we dreamed the sweetest sleep
We didn’t need a perfect plan
Just boots and love and pots and pans
The snow came down, the world stood still
But Grandma’s house was warm with will
We made a memory, bold and bright
That still comes back each silent night
still comes back each silent night
Sleepover Christmas, snow piled high
Pajamas on ‘til the stars said goodbye
We slept on couches, floors, and chairs
With love and laughter everywhere
Now every year, we tell the tale
Of snow and joy that did not fail
That storm tried hard to steal the day
But Christmas found... a.. better ..way...
Christmas found... a.. better ..way...
Christmas found... a.. better ..way...

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

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Christmas Found

Woke up to snow on Christmas week
Boots too big, gloves with a leak
Grabbed the shovel from the shed
Dreams of dollars in my head
Mrs. Lang had a driveway long
Mr. Cruz hummed Christmas songs
I cleared the walks, I earned my pay
Snow shovelin’ for Christmas, earnin’ my keep
Cold hands, warm heart, snow piled deep
Didn’t want much, just a little cash
To buy a gift and make it last
I wasn’t rich, but I felt proud
Snow shovelin’ for Christmas still remember how
Ten bucks here, a cookie there
A wink from folks who saw me care
I saved it up in a coffee tin
Counted coins with a quiet grin
Bought Dad socks, Mom a book
Wrapped ‘em neat in the best I could
And when they smiled on Christmas morn
I knew that love was truly born
Snow shovelin’ for Christmas, earnin’ my keep
Cold hands, warm heart, snow piled deep
Didn’t want much, just a little cash
To buy a gift and make it last
I wasn’t rich, but I felt proud
Snow shovelin’ for Christmas still remember how
I didn’t know it then, but now I see
That work was more than currency
It taught me grace, it taught me grit
And how to give with every bit
The snow was heavy, the days were long
But every flake became a song
Now I watch the young ones go
Through winter’s dance and silent snow
And if they ask me how to start
I say: just lead with your heart
Snow shovelin’ for Christmas, earnin’ my keep
Cold hands, warm heart, snow piled deep
Didn’t want much, just a little cash
To buy a gift and make it last
I wasn’t rich, but I felt proud
Snow shovelin’ for Christmas still remember how
Snow shovelin’ for Christmas...Christmas…Christmas…still remember how

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

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Earnin’ My Keep

But baby, you gotta understand
I was born and raised to be the tape man
Big country kitchen, wrapping spree
Mom ran it like the infantry
She’d bark out orders, “Corners tight!”
“Don’t waste ribbon, fold it right!”
And when the paper hit a snag
She’d yell my name and I’d grab the bag
I was the tape man, fast and true
Knew where the Scotch and scissors flew
One strip clean, no mess, no flap
I sealed the joy with a single snap
While others tied and bowed and ran—
I held it down like only I can
My brother tangled every roll
My sister taped her sleeve, poor soul
But I could fix a gift gone wrong
With one clean pull and a Christmas song
I knew the rhythm, knew the pace
Could tape a box with style and grace
And when the table turned to war
I kept the peace from drawer to drawer
I was the tape man, fast and true
Knew where the Scotch and scissors flew
One strip clean, no mess, no flap
I sealed the joy with a single snap
While others tied and bowed and ran—
I held it down like only I can
But now it’s Christmas, year one here
With your folks and all their cheer
Your brother’s got the tape in hand
And I’ve been asked to ribbon stand
I smiled and said, “Sure, I’ll try”
But deep inside, I can’t deny
I miss the tape, the sacred role
The job that made my young heart whole
It’s not about the tape itself
It’s who you are when no one else
Can fix the folds or save the day
With just a strip and a perfect lay
It’s legacy, it’s family pride
It’s how we held the love inside
And now I stand with ribbon rolls—
A man displaced, but still composed
I was the tape man, fast and true
Knew where the Scotch and scissors flew
One strip clean, no mess, no flap
I sealed the joy with a single snap
While others tied and bowed and ran—
I held it down like only I can
So if they ask me next year too
Will I tie bows or tape like new?
I’ll smile and say, “Let’s see who’s best…”
But deep down, you know the rest

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

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The Tape Man

It started at the winter clothes door
Boots and hats all over the floor
Gloves in pockets, scarves in sleeves
A dance of coats like autumn leaves
We scraped the frost off every pane
The car was cold, the kids complained
But we packed 'em in, row by row
And prayed the heater would start to blow
Coats and cookies, snow and songs
Christmas road trips all night long
Every inch packed, every laugh loud
Mom held goodies like a queen unbowed
Grandpa swore by bricks and sleighs
And stories from the olden days
We drove through snow like we were lost
But love was worth the winter cost
Grandpa said, “We’d heat a brick
In the fireplace, that did the trick
Put it in the sleigh to warm our feet
Back when snow was ten feet deep”
The wipers fought the icy glass
The windows fogged, the minutes passed
The presents stacked to ceiling height
And still we sang through silent night
Coats and cookies, snow and songs
Christmas road trips all night long
Every inch packed, every laugh loud
Mom held goodies like a queen unbowed
Grandpa swore by bricks and sleighs
And stories from the olden days
We drove through snow like we were lost
But love was worth the winter cost
The dog was buried in the back seat fluff
The cousins fought over candy stuff
The map was wrong, the roads were slow
But we had nowhere else to go
Just one more town, one more bend
One more mile to reach the end
And every bump, and every turn
Was part of what we came to learn
Mom’s lap was full of homemade grace
Wrapped in foil, tucked in lace
The snow came down like whispered doubt
But we never let the magic out
Coats and cookies, snow and songs
Christmas road trips all night long
Every inch packed, every laugh loud
Mom held goodies like a queen unbowed
Grandpa swore by bricks and sleighs
And stories from the olden days
We drove through snow like we were lost
But love was worth the winter cost
We made it there, and made it back
On memory’s winding, snowy track

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

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Coats and Cookies (1) (1)

Coffee brewin’, slippers on
Lights still blinkin’ just past dawn
You tear the ribbon, I catch the fall
Crimson scraps and silver sprawl
a box is opened, joy released
And I’m the one who clears the feast
A crumpled bow, a tag half-torn
A memory made, a moment born
I gather bits from where they land
And fold the day with quiet hands
I’m the keeper of the wrapping here
The one who moves through joy and cheer
While gifts are opened, hearts are wide
I make sure every scrap’s inside
And though my part is soft and small—
It’s how treasure the love of all
gentle, melodic acoustic hook
The kids are wild, the paper flies
A storm of sparkle in their eyes
You hold your gift, you beam so wide
I fold each wrap and set it aside
andI see beauty in the pile
from every merry christmas smile
I’m the keeper of the wrapping here
The one who moves through joy and cheer
While gifts are opened, hearts are wide
I make sure every scrap’s inside
And though my part is soft and small—
It’s how I treasure the love of all
The dog’s asleep beneath the chair
A ribbon’s tangled in your hair
I catch a glance, you wink at me
Like you remember silently
That every year, through all the cheer
I’ve been the one who’s always near
every gift of paper and bows
brings a joy that nobody knows
My christmas gift of watchin’ you
Unwrap our life, our laughter too
I’ve seen the years in paper trails
The way our joy never fails
From tiny hands to grown-up grace
I’ve held this space, I’ve kept this place
And when the day is packed away
And silence takes the stage to play
I’ll still be here, while other are napping
living large as ..Keeper.. of ..the ..Wrapping
I’m the keeper of the wrapping here
The one who moves through joy and cheer
While gifts are opened, hearts are wide
I make sure every scrap’s inside
And though my part is soft and small—
It’s how I treasure the love of all
The Christmas paper’s gone, the.. room ..is still—
But love remains… and.. always... will

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

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Keeper of the Wrapping

I saw the list you left for me
Crayons on the counter, under the tree
A robot dog, a doll that talks
A race car set with flashing shocks
But times are tight, and bills came fast
The paycheck’s gone, the gas won’t last
So I stayed up late with glue and thread
And made you gifts instead
I made you something with my hands
Not from a store, not from a brand
But every stitch and painted part
Is filled with love straight from my heart
I know it’s not what others got
But I swear it’s worth a whole toy shop
I’m just your dad, doin’ my best
To make this Christmas feel like the rest
For my little man, I carved his storybook favorite train
From scrap wood found behind the lane
Painted it red, with homemade wheels that roll
And his name burned in the engine coal
For my sweet girl, I stitched a doll and a baby bear
From Grand mama’s scarf and some yarn for hair
Both have a red heart sewn on thier chest
To remind you, you’re always blessed
I made you something with my hands
Not from a store, not from a brand
But every stitch and painted part
Is filled with love straight from my heart
I know it’s not what others got
But I swear it’s worth a whole toy shop
I’m just your dad, doin’ my best
To make this Christmas feel like the rest
One day you’ll grow, and maybe see
The things I gave weren’t bought, but free
Free from shame, free from lack
Just love.. that never held back
And when you wake, I’ll watch you smile
Hope it lasts a good long while
‘Cause what I gave, I gave with grace
And I see joy light up your face
I made you something with my hands
Not from a store, not from a brand
But every stitch and painted part
Is filled with love straight from my heart
I know it’s not what others got
But I swear it’s worth a whole toy shop
I’m just your dad, doin’ my best
To make this Christmas feel like the rest
And if you ask me what it’s worth
I’ll say: it’s everything on Earth

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

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With My Hands

Grandpa grew up scoring baseball games
Radio hummin’ him fill'en score card frames
Kept score like it was sacred law
From Casey’s moves to Gil’s last straw
But come December, he’d switch gears
Pull out his pad, wipe off the years
And on that morning, loud and proud
He’d shout “Roll Call!” to the crowd
Roll Call! Say your name out loud
Every voice, every laugh allowed
He’d mark it down with column grace
Like Christmas was a pennant race
And when the gifts came, one by one
He’d tally joy like it was fun
At the end, he’d count the score—
And Christmas meant a little more
He’d sit there in his flannel throne
With that pad like it was carved in stone
Every gift got a little tick
From socks to toys to candle wick
And when the last bow hit the floor
He’d read the stats like never before
“Most gifts goes to Jenny Lee!”
“Least goes to… well, let’s see…”
Roll Call! Say your name out loud
Every voice, every laugh allowed
He’d mark it down with column grace
Like Christmas was a pennant race
And when the gifts came, one by one
He’d tally joy like it was fun
At the end, he’d count the score—
And Christmas meant a little more
If you won, you got right to choose
our family New Year’s meal & midnight booze
But if your pile was kinda thin
Grandpa’d slip you a twenty with that grin
Most times it was someone new
A neighbor, friend, just passin’ through
And Mama’d wrap a gift with care
So no one sat with nothin’ there
It wasn’t just about the count
Or who got more, or gift amount
It was about the way he saw
That every gift deserved applause
He made the room feel like a team
Where even strangers lived the dream
And in that pad, with every name—
He wrote down love, not just the game
Roll Call! Say your name out loud
Every voice, every laugh allowed
He’d mark it down with column grace
Like Christmas was a pennant race
And when the gifts came, one by one
He’d tally joy like it was fun
At the end, he’d count the score—
And Christmas meant a little more
Christmas meant a little more
And Christmas meant a little more

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

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Roll Call

Eternal Flame

Bottles in the Black

In the shadows of Apache Junction, at the foot of the majestic Superstition Mountains, sits a weathered hacienda. This desert oasis is home to an enigmatic figure, a songwriter whose journey reads like a long, dusty road of honky-tonk bars and college cafeterias. He wasn't chasing fame or glitter; instead, he chose the soul-crushing beauty of music for music's sake.

Years spent hunched over sticky barroom tables and scribbling lyrics on napkins earned him a reputation—not in the spotlight but in the back rooms where deals are made. He wrote melodies that found their way into the hearts of stars who had lost their own muse. He sold his creations for cash, with no recognition, but the whisper of his songs carried the weight of his soul.

Finally, he bought this piece of desert paradise—a stable income from his timeless songs allowed him to live comfortably, if anonymously. Here in this hacienda, with his family beside him and the mountains as his backdrop, he found the peace to write hits under his own name. He chuckled at the irony that now, without chasing fame, he could create music that brought him joy.

In the end, it was never about the spotlight. It was about the journey, the stories, and the songs that wrote themselves through his life. As the sun set behind the Superstitions, casting long shadows over the hacienda, he strummed his guitar and sang—content, unknown, and unburdened by the world's gaze.


Copyright 2019 Edwin H. Balder

I may be dead when fame comes but my real glory was always JULIE & The Kids. Thank you for such love

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