Mary’s Boy Child
(by Jester Hairston, popularized by Harry Belafonte and Boney M.)

Long time ago in Bethlehem,
So the Holy Bible say,
Mary’s boy child Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas Day.

Chorus:
Hark, now hear the angels sing,
A King was born today
And man will live forevermore
Because of Christmas Day.

Trumpets sound and angels sing,
Listen to what they say
That man will live forevermore
Because of Christmas Day.

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
They saw a bright new shining star,
They heard a choir sing a song,
The music seemed to come from afar.

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.

(Repeat chorus)

By 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.

(Repeat chorus)

Long time ago in Bethlehem,
So the Holy Bible say,
Mary’s boy child Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas Day.

(Repeat chorus and refrain)