The Christmas Guest (Album Version) chords by Johnny Cash

(D major) It happened one (D minor) day near December's end,T (E minor) wo neighbors called on an old friend.And they found (A major) his shop so meager and lean Made gay (D minor) with thousand bows of green (G major) And Con (E minor) rad was sitting with face a- (A major) shine When he suddenly (D minor) stopped as he stitched a twine And he said "Old friend (Ddim) s, at dawn (G major) today,When the cock (C major) was crowing the night away The Lord appeared (D minor) in a dream to me And said "I'm coming your (E minor) guest to be."So I've been busy with feet (A major) astirStrewing my shop with branches of (D minor) fern. The table (G major) is spread and the kettle is (E minor) shined.And over the rafter (A major) s the holly is twined. (D minor) Now (G major) I'll wait for my Lord to ap (C major) pear And listen closely so I will hear His (F major) step as He (G major) nears my (D minor) humble place. (G major) (C major) And I'll open the door and (D flatdim) look on His (D minor) (G major) face.So his friends went home and left (C major) Conrad alone For this was the happiest day (G major) he had known, (B minor) For (E major) long since, his family had (A major) passed away (A minor) And Conrad (D major) had spent many a sad Christmas Day.But he knew (G major) with the Lord as his Christmas Guest This Christ (C major) mas would be the dearest and best.So he (D minor) listened with only joy in his heart (E minor) And with every sound he would rise with a start (A major) And look for the Lord to be at his door. Like the vision (D minor) he had had a few hours (G major) before.So he (E minor) ran to the window after hearing a (A major) sound But all he could (D minor) see on the snow covered ground (G major) Was a shabby beggar (Csus4) whose shoes (C major) were torn And all of his clothes were ragged and worn.But Con (D minor) rad was touched and he went to the doorAnd he said, "You know, your (E minor) feet must be frozen and sore.I have (A major) some shoes in my shop for you And a (D minor) coat that will keep you warmer (G major) too." So (E minor) with grateful heart the man (A major) went awaybut Conrad no (D minor) ticed the time of day And wondered what made the (Ddim) Lord so late (G major) And how much longer he'd (C major) have to wait.When he heard a knock,

he ran to (D minor) the door But it was only a stranger once (E minor) more. A bent old lady with a shawl of (A major) blackWith a bundle of kindling piled on (D minor) her back. (G major) She asked for only a (E minor) place to rest (A major) But that was (D minor) reserved for Conrad's (G major) Great Guest. (C major) But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me (F major) (G major) away,Let me rest for (D minor) awhile (G major) on Christ (C major) mas Day", (D flatdim) So (D minor) Conrad brewed her a steam (G major) ing cup And told (Csus4) her to sit at the (C major) table and sup.But after she left (B minor) he was filled with dismay (E major) For he saw that the hours (A minor) were slipping away And the Lord hadn't come (D major) as he said he would. Then Conrad felt (G major) sure he had misunderstood.When out of the (C major) stillness he heard a cry "Please help me and (D minor) tell me where am I?" So again he opened (E minor) his friendly door And stood disappointed as twice (A major) be fore.It was only a child who'd wandered away (D minor) And was lost from (G major) her family on Christmas (E minor) (A major) Day.Again Conrad's heart was heavy and (D minor) sad But he knew he (G major) should make the little girl glad. (C major) So he called her in and he wiped her tears And quieted all her childish fears.Then he led her back (D minor) to her home once more But as he entered his own (E minor) darkened door he knew the Lord was not (A major) coming today.For the hours of Christmas had (D minor) passed away So (G major) he went to his room and (E minor) knelt down to pray And he said "Dear (A major) Lord, why did you delay? (D minor) What kept you from coming to call on me? For I (Ddim) wanted so much (G major) your face to (C major) see."When soft in the silence a voice he (D minor) heard."Lift up your head for I (E minor) kept my word.Three times my (A major) shadow crossed your floorAnd three times I (D minor) came to your lonely door.I (G major) was the beggar with bruised, (E minor) cold feetAnd I was the (A major) woman you gave something to eat.I was the (D minor) child on the homeless (G major) street.Three times I knocked, and three times I came in.And each (C major) time I found the warmth of a (C major) friend.Of all the gifts, love is the (C major) best.And I was honored to be your Christmas Guest.