old christmas card with house and snow

Paul and Chatter recorded “Shut in at Christmas” and uploaded it to the Blind Pig and The Acorn YouTube channel.

This song was written by Ira Louvin. As Paul said it is melancholy but beautiful. Here’s what else Paul had to say about the song.

“The imagery of the opening verse is so vivid. The second verse is profound with its soul whispers. And the chorus delivers the ultimate promise that makes everything alright, even for a shut in.”

Here’s the words to the song.

From the window of my cottage, Christmas Day I see. Silvery snowflakes softly falling on the golden leaves. Chime bells ringing, children singing, laughing loud with glee. While they’re passing Christmas presents, will they notice me?

I’m a shut in through the Christmas. Notice now and then. But the Savior won’t forsake me, even till the end.

While I sit and cherish memories of the days of old, Days when I was found at Christmas running in the snow, Playing games of joy and laughter, fearing not the cold. Childhood days with dad and mother, whispers in my soul.

I’m a shut in through the Christmas. Notice now and then. But the Savior won’t forsake me, even till the end.

I hope you enjoyed the song. I think a lot of folks can identify with the words this year.

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13 Comments

  1. I love the way Paul can make that little guitar chime at the end! I can do that but only at the twelfth fret. He sure can chime the melody! Wish I could!

  2. It gives me no joy that a lot of folks are experiencing what I have been going through for quite some time. When this dark cloud passes by they are in sunshine once more, I will be happy too.

  3. How beautiful. I love the words of this song. So true, we have been shut up, for months in and out but Jesus is always with us.

  4. Paul wrote a post once that made me so aware of the lives of the Louvin brothers, and I feel much like Donna Wood stated, “always makes me sad.” It seems that those who sometimes seem plagued by the evil of alcohol and drugs can sometimes give us the best music and song writing we will ever know. I always think of Hank Williams mostly, and the highway 19 on which he died is near my home with a simple sign “Hank Williams Memorial Bridge.” Highway19 can be to some a nice little drive enjoying nature or your worst nightmare in Winter with hairpin turns. The anniversary of William’s death will soon be coming up, and stations used to play his songs all day on New Year’s Day.
    Be it superstition or whatever I will choose to go into 2021 with some good luck food to include sauerkraut and black eyed peas. I refuse to be a total shut in and will carry masks and gloves in my car in case I see a place I want to stop. I avoid large crowded areas, and caution is the word. Paul’s song reminds me of all the ole time preachers on the radio. If one could not get to church folks used to play these loudly on Sundays. Over and over the ole time preachers would say their broadcasts went out to the “sick and shut ins.” I miss hearing them! Your blog always brings to us the things we love most and rarely experience anymore.

  5. Very touching. The cottage on the antique Christmas card reminds me of the Farm House at the Folk School in the early days before it was remodeled.

  6. Ira was a very talented man…….and I was acquainted with Charlie during my Nashville days…..I believe it was Willie who said,”We all got our own snakes to kill”…….and I thank God AA was there when I found one I couldn’t kill alone.

  7. Tipper, you certainly pick an appropriate song for us, who have been shut in by the weather. I am looking forward to warmer weather and being able to go to the gym!

  8. Thinking about Ira Louvin always makes me sad. He was in the grip of alcohol most of his life, and so tortured. My favorite Louvin Brothers song is “Wait a Little Longer, Please Jesus”. I wonder if Paul and Pap ever sang that one together.

  9. With my internet up and down this weekend. It was blessing to wake up this Sunday morning and listen to this with a cup of coffee.

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