The song “Thanksgiving” was released by Stephen Kellogg in mid-2013. It will never become a traditional song for the November holiday of the same name, since the message is not about being thankful for what you have; it’s a message of don’t regret your past mistakes and don’t give up.
“Thanksgiving” begins and ends with a church choir that bookends Kellogg’s story. The story can be divided into three segments. The first segment is a reflection upon the childhood of the person, and his appreciation for Thanksgiving. What follows is a tale of adulthood, which started with promise, but didn’t turn out well. The final segment takes the approach of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” The conclusion – Don’t feel sorry for me, I don’t: I don’t give up.
Currently, Stephen Kellogg s allowing free downloads.
The Lyrics of “Thanksgiving:”
Oh Thanksgiving, the harvest draws to a close
Pride of man will swallow him, for he reaps what he sows
Oh living, it’s harder every day
Only in the darkness can you see you’ve lost your way
I recollect the Rose of Sharon had come back again
The trees were blowing in the breeze all high above my head
When a cavalcade of memories appeared to me in words I wished I’d said.
From that point on a song stayed in my thoughts most of the time
But when I tried to sing it out loud it would always leave my mind
Like the things you know are true, but never can explain when you get asked.
A melody, floating just within your grasp, it goes…
When I was a child, I always remember
The way I would feel, 4th Thursday November
My uncles would play, there would be music
Only much later, I noticed the drinking
The feeling my family was growing and sinking
St. Petersburg Palace stain glass in sun
They were well on their way I had only begun.
So boy meets a girl, Venus and Adonis
Friendship on fire, adulthood upon us
They teach you to fly, then spend all of their time
Standing over you, clipping your wings.
Where there was a me, there could be an us
I dreamt about money, she talked about trust
She is my axis, death is by foxes
And we were well on our way.
Stories, everybody’s got one
This is mine, you will have your own
Nothing like the real thing, nothing like it.
Cleaner than Christmas or our wedding day
I knew her father was pissed, though he wouldn’t say it
I would be too and someday I will be
No kid could be good enough.
Taking on Sunday, taking on owls
Catching a glimpse of the wolf as it howls
Got a lot of nice things, got a really nice house
On Father’s Day, I’m thinking of mothers
I can only suppose they’re thinking of others
Insurance is up, it came in the mail
Yeah it kills me what they’re charging for little white pills.
I blow through the years like a mother defending its own
And I fear, I’m driving on spare tires
Seems like I’ll never get home, like I’ll never get home
Like I’m getting threadbare.
I can’t find my way, she showed me the map
I still can’t believe I acted like that
Just follow your heart up past most of the brain
If you get lost at reason, move down past pain.
I’ll see you in court, bring your raincoat
I’m keeping the kids, I’m keeping the house
It takes minutes to make us a baby
And years to remember what that was about.
Stories, everybody’s got one
When we die what will we have done?
Nothing like the real thing, nothing like it.
It’s snowing in April, something’s changing in me
That’s the sound of a heart getting clean, baby
I traded in booze for loads of caffeine
And my friends they traded in me.
Another Thanksgiving and I’m all alone
My favorite holiday and nobody’s home
No shame in the past, no pride in the future
I know, believe me I know.
Those years we spent talking, learning to agree
The truth is I’m just thankful you tolerated me
There’s so many thorns, not enough roses
My girls as they sleep, the eye as it closes.
This year for Thanksgiving I’m keeping my list short
No one gets married, no one gets divorced
What if the world could stand still for even a day?
If there was no crime, no rape and no killing
Addictions suspended, no cutting or drilling
If everyone took the day off and hung out with their friends
I know what you’re saying, it’s not realistic
I’ve heard it my whole life, look at the statistics
But lucky for us, I’m not a guy that gives up
I never give up, ‘cause I go…
Oh Thanksgiving, the harvest draws to a close
Redemption is a bugle humility composed
Sweet forgiveness, thawing across frozen ground
Casting light eternally, carrying its sound.
