AWAY IN THE MANGER Away in the manger no crib for His bed. The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky look down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing the poor baby wakes, But little Lord Jesus, No crying He makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus; Look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle, till morning is night. by Martin Luther O HOLY NIGHT OH HOLY NIGHT Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees Oh hear the angel voices Oh night divine Oh holy night when Christ was born Oh night divine Oh night divine Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming Here came the wise men from far distant land The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger In all our trials born to be our friend. THE CHRISTMAS GUEST It happened one day near December's end when two neighbors called on an old friend and they found his shop so meager and lean made gay with thousand bows of green and Conrad was sitting with faces shining when he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine and he said "Old friends, it dawned today as the cock was crowing the night away the Lord appeared in a dream to me and said "I'm coming your guest to be." So I've been busy with feet of stern strewing my shop with branches of fern. The table is spread and the kettle is shine. And over the rafters the holly is twine. Now I'll wait for my Lord to appear and listen closely so I will hear his step as he nears my humble place. And I'll open the door and look on His face. So his friends went home and left Conrad alone for this was the happiest day he had known. For long since his family had passed away and Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas Day. But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas Guest this Christmas would be the dearest and best. So he listened with only joy in his heart and with every sound he would rise with a start and look for the Lord to be at his door. Like the vision he had had a few hours before. So he ran to the window after hearing a sound but all he could see on the snow covered ground was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn and all of his clothes were ragged and worn. But Conrad was touched and he went to the door and he said "You know your feet must be frozen and sore. I have some shoes in my shop for you and a coat that will keep you warmer too." So with grateful heart the man went away but Conrad noticed the time of day and wondered what made the Lord so late and how much longer he'd have to wait. When he heard a knock he ran to the door but it was only a stranger once more. A bent old lady with a shawl of black with a bundle of kindling piled on her back. She asked for only a place to rest but that was reserved for Conrad's great guest. But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me away, let me rest for awhile on Christmas Day", so Conrad brewed her a steaming cup and told her to set at the table and sup. But after she left he was filled with dismay for he saw that the hours were slipping away and the Lord hadn't come as he said he would. Then Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood. When out of of the stillness he heard a cry "Please help me and tell me where am I?" So again he opened his friendly door and stood disapointed as twice before. It was only a child that wandered away and was lost from her family on Christmas Day. Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad but he knew he should make the little girl glad. So he called her in and he wiped her tears, quieted all her childish fears. Then he led her back to her home once more but as he entered his own darkened door he knew the Lord was not coming today. Well the hours of Christmas had passed away so he went to his room and knelt down to pray and he said "Dear Lord, why did you delay? What kept you from coming to call on me? For I wanted so much your face to see. " When soft in the silence a voice he heard. "Lift up your head for I kept my word. Three times my shadow crossed your floor and three times I came to your lowly door. I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet and I was the woman you gave something to eat. I was the child on the homeless street. Three times I knocked, and three times I came in. And each time I found the warmth of a friend. Of all the gifts, love is the best. And I was honored to be your Christmas Guest. On This Day (Michael P. Heeney, David Scarlett) The kids were up before dawn this morning Right to the Christmas tree they ran Called up the stairs for us to hurry Wait for this day for about as long as they could stand While trading presents the little one asks me Why do we have Christmas each year I said long ago a child was born this day He's a gift more precious then all you see here Chorus: Cause on this day A child was born In the town of Bethlehem And on this day God sent his son to bring peace and goodwill To all men Oh on this day we call Christmas We honor his name On this day We recall all the reasons he came On this day On this day Grandma and Grandpa arrived after breakfast The rest of the gang by noon We spent the day watching football and breaking in toys Helping out in the kitchen Catching up on old news When the dinner bell rang We all took our places Grandpa said who wants to say grace Before anyone else could utter a word Oh the little one bowed her head And she started to say Repeat Chorus Oh on this day we call Christmas We honor his name On this day We recall all the reasons he came On this day On this day Silent Night (Arranged by Reba McEntire) (What's written in sentences and not verse at the beginning is what Reba explains at the beginning, the rest is the song) On Christmas Eve in 1818 A blizzard stranded the tiny village of Ogledorf Nestled in the Austrian mountains That same day the people of St. Nicholas' church found their organ broken So the priest and organist began composing a song that could be sung without an organ yet beautiful enough to express their Christmas joy All day and all night long they worked And at midnight the gentle carol Silent Night was born The pure clear tones echoed through the hills And the world has been captured by the beauty of that simple song ever since. Silent Night Holy Night All is calm All is bright Round yon virgin Mother and child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Silent Night Holy Night Shepeards pray at the sight Glory streams from heaven afar Heavenly ? sing hallelujah Christ the Savior is born Christ the Savior is born Silent Night Holy Night All is calm And all is bright Round yon virgin Mother and child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Silent Night Holy Night Sleep in heavenly peace Happy Birthday Jesus (I'll Open This One For You) (Arranged by Reba McEntire) Now kids hang on just a second before we start You know there's a reason we are all here in front of Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas tree And if Trevor and E.P. would quit fighting long enough and be real quiet This little song might help ya understand Long ago in a stable there was a baby being born His parents were Joseph and Mary And Joseph's big ole heart was torn Cause he couldn't find a decent place for Mary to have her child But Mary said it just seemed just right and she blessed it with her smile Chorus: Cause what made it special was the baby in her arms God sent Him down to give the world a second chance for you and I That's why we have Christmas at this time each year It's the baby's birthday party that brings us so much cheer Now kids the presents that all of you exchange on Christmas Represents the gifts that baby Jesus received the night he was born He got all his presents from three wise men Who followed a star And walked a long long way to the stable So everytime you tear open one of your presents Think about that baby and say Happy birthday Jesus I'll open this one for you Repeat Chorus OK all together now Happy Birthday Jesus I'll open this one just for you White Christmas (Irving Berlin) I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I used to know Where the treetops glisten And children listen To hear the sleigh bells in the snow I'm dreaming of a white Christmas With every Christmas card I write May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white I'll Be Home For Christmas (Kim Gannon, Walter Kent, Buck Ram) I'm dreaming tonight of the place I love Even more then I usually do And although I know it's a long road back This I promise you Well, I'll be home for Christmas You can plan on me So please have snow and lots of mistletoe And presents under the tree Oh Christmas Eve will find me Where the love life is I'll be home for Christmas If only in my dreams You know Christmas Eve will find me Where the love life is Darling I'll be home for Christmas If only in my dreams Oh if only in my dreams A Christmas Letter (Gene Nelson, John Greenebaum, Paul Nelson) At an antique desk An old man sits alone It's Christmas Eve And it's almost time to go He signs his name to a letter he just wrote Then he reads it back with a voice as soft as snow Chorus: I want peace on earth for Christmas In a world where there's not one hungry child They would hope and faith Conquers fear and hate All I'm asking for is a little more love Then he walks outside And he climbs up on his sleigh And calls out to his reindeer Off they fly away Oh tonight he'll make a million dreams appear While he wishes that his own dreams would come true this year Repeat Chorus That they would hope and faith Conquers fear and hate All I'm asking for is a little more love The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) (Mel Torme, Robert Wells) Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at your nose Yuletide carols being sung by the choir Folks dressed up like ? Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe Helps to make the season bright Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow Will find it hard to sleep tonight They know that Santa Claus is on his way He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh And every mother's child is gonna spy To see if reindeer really know how to fly And so I'm offering this simple phrase To kids from 1 to 92 Although it's been said many times many ways Merry Christmas to you Oh, and so I'm offering this simple phrase To kids from 1 to 92 And although it's been said many times many ways Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas to you (Whispers) Merry Christmas I would like to thank Danielle for helping me with these lyrics. She took her time out to listen to the album and take these lyrics down for me. Thank you so much, Danielle! I couldn't have done it without ya!