C                      Am
cap & gown in purple & gold
       F                                     C
you're 22 years old & a woman now you're told
                               Am
Aunt Beth & Charlie cut a check for the graduating niece
F                                     C
& you marked your independence with a signature on a lease
                         Am
but home was a photograph you taped to your wall
                G          F                   C
it's gonna be a cold white Christmas in St Paul

G   F   C

C                                   Am
beer for breakfast who's gonna scold
           F                                                    C
you've got your early hours dulled by the cigarettes you rolled
                          Am
second shift as a fry cook that's your holiday in grease
F                                              C
& you trudge to work through the snow in a coat down to your knees
                                  Am
& you linger at the twinkle lights as you pass by the mall
                      G          F                   C
& count the days to a cold white Christmas in St Paul

G   F   C

C   Am   F   C

C   Am   F   C

C                             Am     
feather down the nights get so cold
      F                                                   C
& you ignore the smell of mold as you smooth out the folds
                      Am
when you're on your own you've got no one to please
F                                        C
in a Minnesota city just as bare & as mean as the winter trees
                                      Am
but you'll be damned if you're the one making collect calls
     G          F                   C
on a cold white Christmas in St Paul
            G          F                   C
yeah it's a cold white Christmas in St Paul