Mary's Boy Child
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Standard Notation
ABC Notation
Mandolin Tablature
legacy / Christmas Carol
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Standard Notation
Mandolin Tablature
Song Sheet
Jester Hairston
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
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Lyrics:
Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the Holy Bible say
Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas day.
Refrain
Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live forever more
Because of Christmas day.
While shepherds watched their flock by night
Them see a bright new shining star
And then them hear a choir sing
The music seem to come from afar.
Refrain
Now Joseph and he wife Mary
Come to Bethlehem that night
Them find no place to borne she child
Not a single room was in sight.
Refrain
By and by them find a little nook
In a stable all forlorn
And in a manger cold and dark
Mary's boy child he was born.
Refrain
"Mary's Boy Child" is a 1956 Christmas song, written by Jester Hairston.
It was recorded by Harry Belefonte in 1956 for his album
An Evening with Belafonte. I was told by Jamaican singer Stan Shepherd
that the grammar in this song, particularly the possessive pronouns,
reflect the common usage in the West Indies.
This song is fairly well known, enough to be included in store muzak,
often in a bogus West Indian accent - kind of a modern version of the
nineteenth century minstrel show quasi-Negro accent.
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