This song is based on the true story of a Boulder homeless man, Benjamin Harvey, who died on the streets of Boulder late Christmas Eve in 2017. Temperatures had fallen to the low teens that night.
Earlier in the year, Benji had been expecting a letter from his father that contained a bit of money to help him out. He had arranged to have the letter sent to the homeless shelter.
But, when Benji arrived at the shelter to ask about the letter, it was one minute past the time for receiving mail, and he wasn’t allowed to collect his letter. In anger, Benji pounded on the entry window, and for that crime he was banned from the shelter for one year.
Early Christmas morning, Benji’s body was found on a park bench outside the Boulder History Museum. He had died from hypothermia.
#VERSE
Benji’s got a little problem
His toes are froze and he just can’t feel them
But he knows just how he can heal them
Or forget that he even knows them
#CHORUS
One more drink
Just one more drink
#VERSE
Papa’s got a Christmas bonus
Says he’ll share it or maybe loan it
Find a place just to crash and warm up
Maybe even last ‘til Christmas
#VERSE
Says he’ll share it in a Christmas letter
Send today, soon it will get there
Pick it up at the homeless shelter
Maybe life is really getting better
#CHORUS
One more chance
Just one more chance
#CHORUS
One more night
Just one more night
#VERSE
Pick up mail from six to eight
Take the bus, it’s running late
In the door, 8:01, it’s fate
No mail for you, you just got to wait
#VERSE
Benji’s got a little temper
One minute late, he gets no letter
Punch the window, it gets no better
Earn two weeks ban from the shelter
#CHORUS
One more minute
#BRIDGE
There’s just no way out of this trap
Muttered Benji to himself
There’s too much intrusion and I
Can’t get no help
Businessmen don’t bring me no wine and
Plowman give no work
And none of you along the line know what a
Single life is worth
#CHORUS
One more night
Just one more night
#VERSE
Benji’s got a little problem
Ten degrees and the shelter’s banned him
Christmas Eve, Santa’s not comin’
A letter waiting in the shelter mail bin
#CHORUS
One more night
Just one more night
#VERSE
A letter waiting in the shelter mail bin
#CHORUS
One more life
Just one more life