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MARY’S BOY CHILD

Long time ago in Bethlehem,
so the Holy Bible say,
Mary’s Boy Child, Jesus Christ,
was born on Christmas Day.

“Hark! Now hear,” the angels sing,
“new King born today.”
And man will live forevermore,
because of Christmas Day.

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
they saw a bright, new shining star,
and heard a choir from heaven sing,
the music came from afar.

“Hark! Now hear,” the angels sing,
“a new King born today.”
And man will live forevermore,
because of Christmas Day.

Now Joseph and his wife, Mary,
came to Bethlehem that night.
They found no place to bear her child,
not a single room was in sight.

But but-and-by they found a little nook,
in a stable, all forlorn.
And in a manger, cold and dark,
Mary’s little Boy Child was born.

Trumpets sound and angels sing,
listen to what they say,
That man will live forevermore,
because of Christmas day.

 – Jester Hairston, 1956