One Man Mormon Blues Band: Music

• MP3 short clip, hi-fi play (broadband)
• MP3 short clip, lo-fi play (modem)

This CD is my attempt to tell the story of the nativity in the form of folk music, music of the common man, the very ones Jesus Christ sought out during his ministry on earth.

This song sets the stage. It establishes a story teller to tell the story of the songs that follow. While I have tried to stay true to the biblical account, I am also imagining the events as I think they might have happened. I hope this covers for my errors of speculation.

This particular melody is one of only two on this CD that are original with me. Repetition of lines and motifs are common attributes of folk music.

Southeast of Jerusalem in the hills of Galilee
Daddy lived in Bethlehem that's where my Mother had me.
Daddy dug a well there Built a house not far away
We planted wheat in the hills we'd gather every May
In Bethlehem In Bethlehem
Not much ever happened hear though some people say
The shepherds once heard the angels sing on Caesar's census day

Daddy knocked the olives from the trees onto the soil
I learned to run the olive press that turned them into oil
Not much of a village I lived there all my years
Drought and Roman soldiers were the only things we feared
In Bethlehem In Bethlehem
Not much ever happened here though some people say
That a special child was born on
Caesar's census day

From Jerusalem to Hebron Nazareth to Bethany
They whispered stories about a girl and her little boy baby
The crowd was thick and business good I had to earn my pay
So I'm not sure that it happened Just telling you what they say
In Bethlehem In Bethlehem
Not much ever happened here though some people say
Wise men came from far away on
Caesar's census day

Now that I'm an old man my children moved away
They tell stories about the baby born on Caesar's census day
I will tell you the stories if you will agree
About the baby's Mother a girl they called Mary
In Bethlehem In Bethlehem
Not much ever happened here though some people say
The shepherds once heard the angels sing on
Caesar's census day