This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research.

Words and music: Jester Hairston
From: Guitar Picker (www.gospelmusic.tk)

Mary's Boy Child

Long [C] time ago in [F] Bethlehem, 
So the [G] Holy Bible [C] say;
Mary's boy child [F] Jesus Christ 
Was [C] born on [G7] Christmas [C] day.

Chorus
[C] Hark now [F] hear the [G7] angels [C] sing, 
A [Am] new [F] king born [G] today,
And [C] man will [F] live [C] forever [Dm] more, 
[C] Because of [G7] Christmas [C] day.

[C] Trumpets [F] sound and the [G7] angels [C] sing,
[Am] Listen to [F] what they [G] say.
That [C] man will [F] live [C] forever [Dm] more, 
[C] Because of [G7] Christmas [C] day.


While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 
Them see a bright new shining star,
Them hear a choir sing,
The music seemed to come from afar.

Chorus

Now Joseph and his wife Mary,
Come to Bethlehem that night,
Them find no place to lay she 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 was born.

Chorus

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


A different key and slighty different arrangement

Mary's Boy Child

(G)A long time ago in (C)Bethlehem, 
so the (D)Holy Bible (G)say, 
Mary's boy child, (C)Jesus Christ 
was (D)born on Christmas (G)day 

Chorus: 
(G)Hark now (C)hear the (D)angels (G)sing, 
a new King (C)born to(D)day 
and (G)man will live for(C)ever more, 
be(D)cause of (C)Christmas (G)day 

(G)Joseph and his (C)wife, Mary, 
came to (D)Bethlehem that (G)night, 
they found no place to (C)lay their heads, 
not a (D)single room was in (G)sight 

(G)By and by they found a (C)little place 
in a (D)stable all for(G)lorn, 
and in a manger (C)soft and deep, 
(D)Mary's little (C)boy was (G)born 

Chorus

(G)Trumpets (C)sound and (D)angels (G)sing, 
(C)listen to what they (D)say, 
(G)"Man shall live for(C)evermore, 
be(D)cause of (C)Christmas (G)day" 

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