This song was first released on the A Christmas Together Album. It is the only album it has been released on. It is a poem. Did you ever hear the story of the Christmas tree Who just didn't want to change the show He liked living in the woods and playing with squirrels He liked icycles and snow He liked wolves and eagles and grizzly bears And critters and creatures that crawled Why bugs were some of his very best friends Spiders and ants and all Now that's not to say that he ever looked down On a vision of twinkled lights Or on mirrored bubbles and peppermint canes And a thousand other delights And he often had dreams of tiny reindeer And a jolly old man in a sleigh Full of toys and presents and wonderful things And a story of Christmas Day Oh, Alfie believed in Christmas alright He was full of Christmas cheer All of each and every day And all throughout the year To him it was more than a special time Much more than a special day It was more than a special story, it was more than a beautiful story It was a special kind of way You see some folks have never heard a jingle bell ring And they've never heard of Santa Claus They've never heard the story of the Son of God That made Alfie pause Did that mean that they'd never know of peace on Earth Or the Brotherhood of Man Or know how to love, or know how to give If they can't no one can You see, life is a very special kind of thing Not just for a chosen few But for each and every living, breathing thing Not just me and you So when you're at Christmas prayers this year Alfie asked me if I'd ask you Say a prayer for the wind and the water and the wood And those who live there too Words by John Denver