The Gift Of The Magi

Joni Mitchell · Other Songs - Joni Mitchell

I remember Monday rising up to pack his lunch

We kissed goodbye

Saying what a foolish girl was I

Saying, what a fool was she



Near the store where I go shopping

On display there was a golden watch chain

All that week it had me stopping

What a fool was she



Almost Christmas, we were so poor

Where there was will

There were ways

I was sure



In the paper written plain

I saw an ad, I caught a train

And sold my hair to buy the chain

What a fool was she



And he says I remember Monday rising with her hair

Reflected in my eyes

It caught the sun a million times

What a fool was he



In a window near the office was a comb

Of pearls and beads and tortoise

Oh, the devil'd come to court us

What a fool was he



Almost Christmas, we were so poor

Where there was will

There were ways

I was sure



In the pawnshop coming home

I stopped inquiring for a loan

And sold the watch to buy the comb

What a fool was he



Christmas came up cold and glum

There were no visions of sugar plums

There were no joyous carols sung

Oh, what fools were they



He sat glaring at her bob

As she lay weeping

By a chain and fob

And sadly burned the yule log



And wise men lost their way

Wise men lose their way

Merry Christmas Day