Mandisa grew up in Citrus Heights, California (Sacramento County) and graduated from El Camino Fundamental High School. She then attended American River College in Sacramento where she studied Vocal Jazz. Then she was off to Fisk University in Tennessee and graduated with a bachelor's of music degree with a concentration in vocal performance. Mandisa currently resides in the suburban Nashville community of Antioch, Tennessee. When she auditioned for American Idol in Chicago, she asked the judges to call her "just Mandisa", and she has been billed as Mandisa (with no last name) on the show since the shows Hollywood round. Mandisa was a backup singer for famed Christian author and speaker Beth Moore. She has stated her musical influences run the gamut from Whitney Houston to Def Leppard.
Idol judge Simon Cowell made several comments about Mandisa's weight during her audition. When he first saw her, he quipped are we "going to have a bigger stage this year." Later, when Paula Abdul commented that Mandisa had a "Frenchie" growl to her voice, Cowell responded that a more apt comparison would be to France itself. These were among comments that drew the ire of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, and would be one of the reasons Mandisa would entitle her 2007 album "True Beauty".
According to the Stronger Songfacts, the 11 tracks of Mandisa's 2011 album What If We Were Real encourage shining the light on whom we really are, including both the good and the bad; the theme of the record also coincided with Mandisa's public struggles with food addiction and weight loss. "A struggle is a struggle, and Jesus is there through it all," the singer explained. "He is there in compassion and grace. I have found that what He has spoken to me through these songs has been encouraging and I think that'll be true for other people who are going through their own hard times."
Mary's Little Boy Child
Mandisa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So the Holy Bible say
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas day
Hark now hear the angels sing
A new king born today
And man will live forevermore
Trumpets sound and angels sing
Listen what they say
That man will live forevermore
Because of Christmas day
While shepherds watch their flock by night
They see a bright new shining star
Then hear a choir sing
The music seemed to come from afar
Now Joseph and his wife Mary
Come to Bethlehem that night
Then find no place to born the child
Not a single room was in sight
Hark now hear the angels sing
A new king born today
And man will live forevermore
Because of Christmas day
Trumpets sound and angels sing
Listen what they say
That man will live forevermore
Because of Christmas day
By and by they find a little nook
In a stable all forlorn
And in a manger cold and dark
Mary's little boy was born
The lyrics to Mandisa's song "Mary's Little Boy Child" tell the story of Jesus Christ's birth, as described in the Holy Bible. The first paragraph establishes the setting in Bethlehem, where it is said that Mary's son, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas day. The second and third paragraphs describe the angels singing of the birth of a new king and the trumpets sounding, indicating that man will live forevermore because of this momentous event. The fourth and fifth paragraphs refer to the shepherds in the fields who witness the shining star and hear a choir singing from far away. The final two paragraphs describe how Joseph and Mary, after arriving in Bethlehem, find no place to give birth to the child and end up in a stable, where Jesus is born in a manger.
The theme of the song is the birth of Jesus and the impact it has had on humanity. The lyrics focus on the humble circumstances surrounding his birth, underscoring how unexpected it was that such a momentous event would take place in a lowly stable. The song emphasizes the divine nature of the birth, with the angels singing and trumpets blaring in celebration of the new king.
Line by Line Meaning
Long time ago in Bethlehem
A significant and separate event took place many years ago in a town called Bethlehem.
So the Holy Bible say
This information is recorded in the Holy Bible.
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ
Mary gave birth to a boy child who would later be named Jesus Christ.
Was born on Christmas day
The specific day on which this boy named Jesus Christ was born is Christmas day.
Hark now hear the angels sing
Listen closely to the angel's song.
A new king born today
A new king has been born on this day.
And man will live forevermore
The birth of this new king ensures that humankind will exist forevermore.
Because of Christmas day
The day of Christmas is the reason why humankind will exist forevermore.
Trumpets sound and angels sing
The sound of trumpets and singing angels fills the air.
Listen what they say
Pay attention to the words of the angels.
That man will live forevermore
The angels are proclaiming that humankind will exist forevermore.
While shepherds watch their flock by night
While the shepherds are keeping a watchful eye over their sheep during the nighttime.
They see a bright new shining star
They notice a bright and new star shining in the sky.
Then hear a choir sing
Shortly after, they hear a choir singing.
The music seemed to come from afar
The sound of the choir's music appeared to be coming from a distant place.
Now Joseph and his wife Mary
The couple named Joseph and Mary.
Come to Bethlehem that night
They arrive in Bethlehem on that very night.
Then find no place to born the child
However, they are unable to find any place to give birth to their child.
Not a single room was in sight
They cannot find a room to stay in at all.
By and by they find a little nook
Eventually, they come across a small and private area.
In a stable all forlorn
This private area happens to be a stable with a gloomy atmosphere.
And in a manger cold and dark
Inside this stable, there is a cold and dark feeding trough used for animals.
Mary's little boy was born
This is where and when Mary's boy child named Jesus Christ was born.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jester Hairston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind