See also Maddy Prior & the Carnival Band. Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band… Read Full Bio ↴See also Maddy Prior & the Carnival Band. Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band have been teaming up since 1982 to revive interest in traditional carols and hymns and 18th century drinking songs. The band and Maddy Prior of course have their own separate projects and only work together from time to time. See also Maddy Prior & the Carnival Band. For more information see this Wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maddy_Prior).

Poor Little Jesus
Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band Lyrics

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O, poor little Jesus,
This world gonna break your heart.
There'll be no place to lay your head, my Lord.
O, poor little Jesus.

O, Mary the mother,
O, Mary, she bow down and cry,
For there's no place to lay his head, my Lord.

O, poor little Jesus.

Come down, all you holy angels,
Sing round him with your golden harps,

For some day he will die to save this world.
O, poor little Jesus.

Overall Meaning

The song, "Poor Little Jesus" is a sorrowful and lamenting tune about the life and tragic end of Jesus Christ. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the hardships and difficulties that Jesus faced during his time on earth. The first stanza speaks of the imminent heartbreak that Jesus will face due to the cruelty of the world. The singer addresses Jesus directly, acknowledging the pain that he will inevitably face during his ministry. The second stanza is directed at Mary, the mother of Jesus, who cries in sorrow because she cannot find a place for her son to rest his head. This refers to the Biblical account of Jesus's birth, where there was no room for him and he had to lay in a manger. The final stanza calls upon the holy angels to comfort Jesus as he prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice to save mankind.

This song has a powerful message of empathy and understanding for the hardships that Jesus faced. It reminds listeners that even the Son of God faced adversity and pain during his time on earth. The haunting melody and melancholy lyrics create a solemn and contemplative atmosphere.

Line by Line Meaning

O, poor little Jesus
Addressing Jesus and acknowledging His suffering

This world gonna break your heart
The world will bring sorrow to Jesus

There'll be no place to lay your head, my Lord
Jesus will not have a comfortable place to rest

O, Mary the mother
Addressing Mary, the mother of Jesus

O, Mary, she bow down and cry
Mary is saddened by the hardships faced by Jesus

For there's no place to lay his head, my Lord
Jesus does not have a comfortable place to rest

Come down, all you holy angels
Asking the holy angels to come closer

Sing round him with your golden harps
Asking the angels to sing to Jesus

For some day he will die to save this world
Jesus will sacrifice Himself to save the world

O, poor little Jesus
Addressing Jesus and acknowledging His suffering

Contributed by Camilla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.