Lyrics

Bethlehem

Words and Music by Wolff Bowden © 2007 ASCAP



The baby Jesus fell asleep beside a newborn lamb

when they woke the blood and love and stars were everywhere.

Three young women stood nearby, their breasts swollen with milk

waiting to give the orphans something beautiful to drink.



Bethlehem, O, Bethlehem

Just you and I and the big night against our newborn skin.

Bethlehem, O, Bethlehem

Sometimes I just walk away I don’t know what to sing.

O, Bethlehem O, Bethlehem



My handsome father bought a sawed-off shotgun yesterday

and went to hunt his cancer like a fox out in the rain.

He shot it dead and took it’s ragged body to the church

and asked the Lords forgiveness for undoing his dark work.



Bethlehem, O, Bethlehem

Just you and I and the big night against our newborn skin.

Bethlehem, O, Bethlehem

Sometimes I get quiet cause there’s nothing left to sing.

O, Bethlehem O, Bethlehem



And every one of us a walking drum.

And every one of us knows how to cry and run.

And every one of us comes home sometime.

And every one of us becomes a ghost by and by.



The hurricanes blow in from somewhere we don’t understand

the little orphan learns guitar because no one thinks he can.

He sits out on the broken bridge and strums his humble strings

he sings about the days to come when strangers take him in.



Bethlehem, O, Bethlehem

Just you and I and the big night against our newborn skin.

Bethlehem, O, Bethlehem

Sometimes I just lift my eyes before I start to sing.

O, Bethlehem O, Bethlehem



I saw the baby Jesus in a seashell on the sand.

He was telling stories to an ancient, naked clam.

I leaned in close so I could know exactly what he said

and heard the sound of ocean waves crashing in his head.



Bethlehem, O, Bethlehem

Just you and I and the big night against our newborn skin.

Bethlehem, O, Bethlehem

Sometimes I just close my eyes and open up my wings.

O, Bethlehem O, Bethlehem