MARY'S LITTLE BOY CHILD
Time signature: 4/4 Typical tempo: ~100 bpm. Jester Hairston
Order of the four verses & two choruses: (V1 + C1) + (V2 + C1) + (V3 + V4) + C2
It was originally written to be played (and sung) to a calypso beat.
It was originally written to be played (and sung) to a calypso beat.
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V1 V2 V1 V2 C1 C2 C1 C2 V3 V4 V3 V4 |
Verses 1 and 2:
.5 "5 "5 .6 "5 | "5* .4* .;3* "5* "5* | .5 .6* .5* .4* | .:4 .r | Long time a - go in Beth-le-hem / So the Ho- ly Bi- ble say. While Shep-pards watched their flocks by night, / (They) Saw a bright new shin- ing star. "5 .7 ;7* .6 | "5* .4* :3* | "5* .5 .6 "6* "6 "7* | .:6 .r | Mar - y's boy child Jes-us Christ / Was born on Christ - mas day Heard a choir from Heav-en sing. / The mus- ic came from a - far. Chorus 1 (after each of verses 1 and 2); Chorus 2 (after verse 4): .7 .7 .8* .8* | .7* .7* :7 | "6 "6 .6 ;7* "6 | .:6* Hark now hear the ang-els sing. / A new king born to - day. Trum-pets sound and ang-els sing. / Lis-ten to what they say: .5* | .5 .7 .;7* "6 | "5* .4* ::3* "5* | .5 .6 "6* "6 .7* | .:6 .r | And man will live for ev- er-more. / Be- cause of Christ - mas day. That man will live for ev- er-more, / Be- cause of Christ - mas day. Verses 3 & 4 are played in succession, with Chorus 2 at end: .:r .5 | .5 .5 .6 .5 | "5* .4* ;3* "5* "5* | "5 .6* ;5* .4* | .:4 Now Jos-eph and his wife Mar- y / Came to Beth-le-hem that night. By and by they find a lit - tle nook / In a stab - le all for - lorn, .5 | "5 .7 ;7* .6 | "5* .4* ;3* "5* "5* | "5 .6 "6* "6 .7* | .:6 .r | They found no place to bear her child, /Not a sin-gle room was in sight And in a man-ger cold and dark / Mar-y's lit- tle Boy Child was born |
youTube VIDEOS
(The order of verses and choruses in the videos may not match the order given above. As well, some include other music with the song, both before and after.)
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Key: A from time 0 to 2:45
A# from 2:46 to End Group: ? Posted by: John Crawford |
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Key: A from time 0 to 1:40
A# from 1:41 to End Group: The Accidentals Posted by: Daniel Craig |
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Key: C
Tempo: ~114 bpm Group: Our talented Australians ... Piano Accordion: Bob Button Accordion: Hector Posted by: bertosvids Playing starts at 28 second mark. |
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Key: A
Tempo: ~87 bpm Singer: Marina Prior Posted by: vico100 The singing does not exactly follow the verse and chord order shown above. |
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Key: C
Tempo: ~111 bpm Group: Soweto Gospel Choir with Slorian Silberei Great singing in a mixture of German and English. "Mary's Boy Child" is followed by "O My Lord". |
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Key: G
Tempo: ~83 bpm Group: Oslo Gospel Twins |
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Full Lyrics:
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PART ONE
Verse 1 Chorus 1 Verse 2 Chorus 1 Verse 3 Verse 4 Chorus 2 |
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: A new King's born today, And man will live forevermore, Because of Christmas day. While shepherds watch their flock by night, They saw a bright new shining star, And heard a choir from Heaven sing. The music came from afar. Now Joseph and his wife Mary Came to Bethlehem that night. They found no place to bare her child; Not a single room was in sight. By and by they find 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 what they say: That man will live forevermore, Because of Christmas day. |
Background:
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Click here for information on this Christmas song.
Click here for information about the great Jester Hairston |