Pretty Paper
Asleep At The Wheel Feat. Willie Nelson Lyrics
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Downtown shoppers, Christmas is nigh
There he sits all alone on the sidewalk
Hopin' that you won't pass him by
Should you stop; better not, much too busy
You'd better hurry, my how time does fly
In the distance the ringing of laughter
And in the midst of the laughter he cries
Wrap your presents to your darling from you
Pretty pencils to write, "I love you"
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
The song "Pretty Paper" tells the story of a disabled man who sells pretty paper and ribbons on the streets during Christmas time. As the busy crowd shop and rush by, he hopes that someone will stop and buy from him. Despite the joy and merriment that surrounds him, he sits alone on the cold and desolate sidewalk, listening to the jubilant sounds of the crowd's laughter, and then he cries. The lyrics reflect the stark contrast between the celebratory atmosphere of Christmas and the loneliness and sadness of those who are less fortunate and forgotten.
The lyrics convey the message that Christmas is not only about giving and receiving gifts but also about showing kindness and compassion towards others who are struggling during the festive season. The man's only hope is that someone would take the time to stop and buy his pretty paper and ribbons so he can earn a living. The chorus of the song highlights the simplicity of gifts and how much they can mean to someone, with pretty paper and ribbons of blue representing the love and thoughtfulness behind each present.
Overall, "Pretty Paper" serves as a reminder to us all that a little kindness and generosity can go a long way, especially during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
Crowded streets, busy feet hustle by him
The streets are full of people rushing around and ignoring the man who sits alone on the sidewalk.
Downtown shoppers, Christmas is nigh
The shoppers are in the midst of a Christmas rush downtown.
There he sits all alone on the sidewalk
The man is sitting alone on the sidewalk, looking sad and forlorn.
Hopin' that you won't pass him by
The man is hoping that someone will stop and acknowledge him.
Should you stop; better not, much too busy
Although people may want to stop and help, they feel too busy to do so.
You'd better hurry, my how time does fly
People are in a hurry and time seems to be passing quickly.
In the distance the ringing of laughter
The sound of laughter can be heard from far away.
And in the midst of the laughter he cries
The man is crying even though he can hear people laughing around him.
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
The song now shifts its focus to the beauty of the wrapping paper and ribbons.
Wrap your presents to your darling from you
The beauty of the wrapping paper and ribbons invites the listener to wrap their gifts with care.
Pretty pencils to write, "I love you"
The songwriter suggests using pretty pencils to write sweet messages like "I love you" on the gifts.
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
The song ends with a repetition of the first line, emphasizing the beauty of the wrapping paper and ribbons.
Writer(s): WILLIE NELSON
Contributed by Sebastian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.