Mary's Boy Child
Matt Monro Lyrics


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Long time ago in Bethlehem, 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's born today
And man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day
Trumpets sound and the angel sing, listen to what they say
That man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day
While shepherds watched their flocks by night
They see a bright new star
They hear a choir sing
The music seems to come from afar

Now Joseph and his wife Mary come to Bethlehem that night
They found no place to lay the child, not a single room was in sight

Hark now hear the angels sing, a new King's born today
And man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day
Trumpets sound and the angel sing, listen to what they say
That man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day

By and by they found a little nook in a stable all forlorned
And in a manger cold and dark Mary's little boy was born

A long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible say
That Mary's boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day

Hark now hear the angels sing, a new King's born today
And man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day




Trumpets sound and the angel sing, listen to what they say
That man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day

Overall Meaning

The song, Mary's Boy Child, is a traditional Christmas carol that narrates the story of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. The lyrics state that Jesus was born on Christmas Day, just as the Holy Bible records. The song opens with a reference to the Bible and Mary’s child, Jesus Christ. The second verse highlights the joy of the occasion, with angels singing and trumpets sounding to announce the birth of a new king. The song further highlights the significance of the birth of Jesus, saying that "man will live forevermore because of Christmas Day."


The third verse describes the scene of the birth of Jesus. Shepherds were watching their flocks that night when they saw a bright star. They heard singing from afar and followed it to find the newborn baby Jesus. In the final verse, Mary and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem and find no place to stay, so they have to settle for a stable where Jesus is born in a manger.


Mary's Boy Child has been recorded and performed by many artists over the years, and remains an enduring classic during the Christmas season. It's a song about hope and redemption, reminding listeners of the true meaning of Christmas.


Interesting facts about Mary's Boy Child:


Line by Line Meaning

Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible say
According to the Holy Bible, a significant event occurred in Bethlehem a long time ago.


Mary's boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day
Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.


Hark now hear the angels sing, a new King's born today
Listen attentively as the angels announce the birth of a new king today.


And man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day
For all eternity, humankind will live because of the event that took place on Christmas Day.


Trumpets sound and the angel sing, listen to what they say
As the angels sing, pay attention to the message they are delivering through the sound of trumpets.


That man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day
Once again, the song reminds us that humankind will live forever because of the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.


While shepherds watched their flocks by night
As the shepherds were tending their sheep during the night,


They see a bright new star
they noticed a new, shining star in the sky.


They hear a choir sing
They could hear a choir singing.


The music seems to come from afar
It seemed like the music was coming from a far-off distance.


Now Joseph and his wife Mary come to Bethlehem that night
That night, Joseph and Mary arrived at Bethlehem.


They found no place to lay the child, not a single room was in sight
They had difficulty finding a place to lay the child since no rooms were available to them.


By and by they found a little nook in a stable all forlorned
Eventually, they discovered a small corner in a neglected stable.


And in a manger cold and dark Mary's little boy was born
In that obscure place, Mary gave birth to her son and placed him in the cold and dark manger.


A long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible say
Again, the song reminds us that Bethlehem played a significant role in the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.


That man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day
The song concludes by once more affirming that humankind will live forever because of the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jester Hairston

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

hategreed1

Thanks for sharing this. So lovely. It's a shame that Matt didn't record more Christmas music. I've always wondered why. There's no singer I'd rather hear any time of the year.

Buck Johnson

hategreed1 I was just thinking 🤔 this today, so I was happy to find this. I wonder Why he never sang, Christmas songs? He be right up there for the King of Kings. It would have let the world embrace his message in each one.

hardyfh1

A very nice version. I always like the way Matt 'matted' a song and made it a 'Matt Monro song'. We always need a little Matt Monro in ours lives, allowing us a little peace and tranquility in an often troubled world. It's always good to hear a singer with a voice and who can actually sing.

Paul Lloyd

This is a lovely Christmas song from Matt Monroe, thank you for posting it, this song is one of my favourites.

Nancy K

I love the song!

Ian Robert Davies

Britain's Frank Sinatra. One of the greatest singers of all time and one of my dream duets.

Michael Law

Dear Matt's ONE OF THE GREATEST OF ALL TIMES - A GREAT LOSS but HIS WONDERFUL MUSIC LIVES ON!!! BRAVO ZILLION BRAVOS!!! AND MUCH MORE....

Villy Vassell

Matt was one of the Greatest singers Great Britain Produced , even Sinatra said ,that why do I try , He was the singers singer , the best.

Robert J Sledz, Ph.D

Beautiful Voice... Why is it been so forgotten?

Ian Robert Davies

I will never forget him.

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