Wednesday, December 14, 2011

A Blog Carol: Mary Had a Baby


BLOG CAROLING!


Thanks to Footnote Maven, and her blog, a Blog Carol event was begun today. There are so many beautiful songs during this time of the year and we all have our favorites. I enjoy this time of the year, and I decided to participate. I thought about several to share, and then thought about the holiday itself. This is a day celebrating the birth of a baby.  There is a Negro Spritual that tells that story, so I share it here.

Mary Had a Baby is a traditional African American Christmas song.

The original lyrics appear below, but this version was a unique adaptation. It was sung by the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, a Canadian choir that specializes in Afrocentric music. and the soloist is Melissa Davis. The song will move and touch the hearts of all who hear it.

The song is simple--it tells the story of a young couple traveling on the road. They found refuge in a small shelter for animals and Mary laid her child in a small manger. This one song, tells that story--- a simple one, about a woman named Mary, who had a baby.

Melissa Davis Sings with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale


Mary Had a Baby

Original Lyrics:
Mary had a baby (My Lord) 
Mary had a baby (Oh My Lord) 
Mary had a baby (My Lord) 
The people keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.
Where did she lay him (My Lord) 
Where did she lay him (Oh My Lord) 
Where did she lay him (My Lord) 
The people keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

Laid him in a manger (My Lord) 
Laid him in a manger (Oh My Lord) 
Laid him in a manger (My Lord) 
The people keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

What did she name him? (Oh My Lord) 
What did she name him? (My Lord) 
The people keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

Named him King Jesus (My Lord) 
Named him King Jesus (Oh My Lord) 
Named him King Jesus (My Lord) 
The people keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

Who heard the singing? (My Lord) 
Who heard the singing? (Oh My Lord) 
Who heard the singing? (My Lord) 
The people keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.
Shepherds heard the singing (Oh My Lord) 
Shepherds heard the singing (My Lord) 
The people keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

Star keeps shining (My Lord) 
Star keeps shining (Oh My Lord) 
Star keeps shining (My Lord) 
The people keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

Moving in the elements (My Lord) 
Moving in the elements (Oh My Lord) 
Moving in the elements (My Lord) 
The people keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.
Jesus went to Egypt (My Lord) 
Jesus went to Egypt (Oh My Lord) 
Jesus went to Egypt (My Lord) 
The people keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

Traveled on a donkey (My Lord) 
Traveled on a donkey (Oh My Lord) 
Traveled on a donkey (My Lord) 
The people keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

Angels went around him (My Lord) 
Angels went around him (Oh My Lord) 
Angels went around him (My Lord) 
The people keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

2 comments:

Liv said...

That is a beautiful song and thanks for featuring it on the Blog Caroling tour this season. I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, a blessed Kwanzaa, and a happy New Year!

Kristin said...

I like this one too.