The Schmuel Song

First a story
A little christmas story
I call it the story of Schmuel
Tailor of Klimovic
Schmuel would work 'til half past ten at his tailor shop in Klimovic
Get up at dawn and start again with the hems and pins and twist
Fourty one years had come and gone at his tailor shop in Klimovic
Watching the winters soldier on there was one thing Schmuel missed
If I only had time, old Schmuel said, I would build the dress that's in my head
A dress to fire the mad desire of girls from here to Minsk
But I have no more hours left to sew
Then the clock upon the wall began to glow
And the clock said na na na na na na na, oh Schmuel you'll get to be happy
Na na na na na na na I give you unlimited time
Na na na na na na na so Schmuel go sew and be happy
But Schmuel said no, no it's not my lot
I've got to make do with the time I've got
Schmuel was done at half past ten and he said good night old Klimovic
Put on his coat to go but then the clock cried wait, not yet
Even though you're not wise or rich you're the finest man in Klimovic
Listen up Schmuel, make on stitch and you'll see what you can get
But Schmuel said clock it's much too late
I'm at peace with life, I accept my fate
But the clock said Schmuel one stitch and you'll unlock the dreams you've lost
So Schmuel with reluctance took his thread
He pulled a bolt of velvet and he said
I should take out my teeth and go to bed
I'm sitting here with talking clocks instead
And the clock said na na na na na na na, oh Schmuel you'll get to be happy
Na na na na na na na I give you unlimited time
Na na na na na na na just do it and you can be happy
So Schmuel put the thread through the needle's eye
And the moon stared down from a starless sky
And he pushed the thread through the velvet black
And he looked and the clock was turning back
So he grabbed some sheers and he cut some lace
As the hands moved left on the old clock's face
And his fingers flew and his fabric swirled
It was nine fifteen all around the world
Every cut and stitch was a perfect fit as if God himself were controlling it
Then Schmuel cried through a rush of tears
Take me back, take me back all fourty one years
And on it went down that silent street
'Til Schmuel's dress was at last complete
And he stretched his arms and he closed his eyes
And the morning sun finally started to rise
And the dress that he made on that endeless night
Was a dress that would make any soul take flight
Not a swatch, not a scane had gone to waste
Every ribbon and button ideally placed
And sewn into the seams were fourty one seasons of dreams
Dreams that you could feel coming real
And that very dress, so the papers swore
Was the dress a girl in Odessa wore
On the day she promised forevermore to love a young man named Schmuel
Who only one day before had knocked at her kitchen door
Plenty have hoped and dreamed and prayed but they can't get out of Klimovic
If Schmuel had been a cute goyish made he'd have looked a lot like you
Maybe it's just that you're afraid to go out onto a limbovic
Maybe your heart's completely swayed but your head can't follow through
Well shouldn't I want the world to see the brilliant girl who inspires me?
Don't you think that now's a good time to be the ambitious freak you are
Say good bye to wiping ash trays at the bar
Say hello to Cathy Hyatt, big time star
'Cos I say na na na na na na na oh Cathy, you get to be happy
Na na na na na na na I give you unlimited time
Na na na na na na na stop temping and go and be happy
Here's a headshot guy and a new backstage
Where you're right for something on every page
Take a breath
Take a step
Take a chance
Take you time
Have I mentioned today how lucky I am to be in love with you