The Night the Elves Danced In Branson As Kurt ‘n Kall sat round the table Telling of tales, story and fable Christmas to be, present and past This tale is told, this story cast Of the oft related night upon the strip When Roy Clark as Santa, cracked his whip So now my children sit, listen and hear Not of the midnight ride of Paul Revere But rather a delightful and fanciful tale Of an almost Christmas that ought to be The night that Branson when into history. Twas the night before Christmas and all round the town Not a singer was stirring, not even Bandy the Clown. Andy’s sock was hung by the chimney with care In hopes that Ann Margaret would soon be there. The ticket masters were nestled all snug in their beds While visions of filled theaters danced in their heads. Anne in her ‘kerchief and Jim in his cap The Staffords were settled, for a long winter’s nap. When out on the strip there arose such a clatter Jimmy Osmond asked the brothers, what was the matter? Up to the strip, I drove like a flash It sounded like a party, a fete, no, a bash Elves dancing on shiny, new-fallen snow Gave gaiety to the lights and neons aglow. When what to my sleep swollen eyes should appear Roy Clark, a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. Roy, as a driver was lively and quick I knew in a moment, he must be St. Nick. More rapid than tourists driving the strip He yelled, cajoled and cracked the whip. Now Delene, Now Dalena I get them confused Now Denny, now Dino At the Grand Palace too On Bill, on Joe, on Dan and Gail Too many Lennons, too many, too many to know Upward, onward and faster we go. Onward, onward we go through the snow Delivering presents above and below. As the winds swirled the flakes And the drifts mounted high The Branson reindeer verily flew through the sky While Delene and Dalena, were leading the pack Roy, as St. Nick, was still in the back The sleigh was full of all sorts of candy Toys, sleds, Barbies and everything dandy. At each house where they stopped to leave loot Roy kept complaining of soot on his suit. Roy had a nice suit of sequins, stitching and stone With a banjo on one arm and toys in his sack The man was a sight that stood out alone. He sang about a Greyhound and someone gone. As he crooned his song he flashed a big smile That thawed the snow, what a look of beguile. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old Roy No fancy diet for this country boy. As he tugged, pulled and handled the sack The banjo was always strapped on his back. Then the silence was broken by a ring of his cell As Paul Harris, the loudest elf in the dell Said Santa, St. Nick, no, I guess it is Roy You are late for your date with Kurt ‘n Kall They are waiting in the wings for your wisdom in words Tell them now, tell them much, and please tell them all. He hustled and bustled and made the snow fly As he finished the homes in Branson on nigh As he cracked the whip , the Branson reindeer flew Through the sky, to the route they so well knew So contrary to lore that has been through the ages Through Clement Clarke Moore as he wrote many pages The last words of Santa as he left Branson out of sight Was not, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. The last words, as far as anyone could tell Was, “The traffic, the shows, gee it was swell.” As we tell of this tale, so delightful and true Branson isdraped in red, white and blue Larry Gatlin and the Brothers are now in Iraq Singing to our troops as they guard us in mass To let them know that we will welcome them back While we sit snug with our families round the table Reading the story of Christ, born in a stable. We would do good to pause and to think Of the many chairs that will be empty this year We hope that Iraq will be found and gave cheer By Roy (oops!) Santa and his eight tiny reindeer. So after this Branson tale is told We sit in warmth keeping in from the cold Lady Kall and myself would like to wish Each and every one who reads this story To remember the reason, the season and glory Of the child who was born to the world in a manger So that in heaven you would be no stranger. From Kurt L. and Lady Kall A Merry Christmas We wish you, each and all Along with a lot of boundless cheer For a great, happy and prosperous, brand New Year © 2003, Gampy’s Gang Productions INC
