Miriam
Pierce Pettis Lyrics


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No banners were unfurled
When God stepped into the world
Held in the arms of a little girl
Named Miriam

Who would ever believe
Your fiance, your family
The teenage pregnancy
Of Miriam

But laws of nature were suspended
Death sentences rescinded
Throughout all the world
And all because of a little girl named Miriam

Medieval paintings glaring down
Stony figures judge and frown
Wearing a halo like a crown
Could that be Miriam

Gentile temples stained glass swirls
Cherubim with golden curls
How unlike your Hebrew world
Miriam

I don't know if you ascended
I don't care what's been amended
There was one sure miracle
The faith of a little girl named Miriam

Oh you are blessed indeed
Blessed is the fruit of your tree
Yeshua kings of kings
And son of Miriam

No banners were unfurled
When God stepped into the world




Held in the arms of a little girl
Named Miriam

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Pierce Pettis's song Miriam depict the story of the birth of Jesus from a unique perspective - that of Mary's, or Miriam's. The lyrics beautifully portray how Mary's teenage pregnancy with Jesus would have been perceived by people around her. The song starts with the line: "No banners were unfurled, when God stepped into the world", which is a powerful statement. It suggests that Jesus' birth was not as glamorous and celebrated as one would like to believe. The lyrics "Held in the arms of a little girl named Miriam" is an allusion to Mary, who became the mother of Jesus. Pierce Pettis explains how Mary's pregnancy and subsequent birth of Jesus would have shocked the people around her - her fiance, her family and the community. The lines "But laws of nature were suspended/death sentences rescinded" suggest that the birth of Jesus was a miraculous event, which went against the laws of nature.


Line by Line Meaning

No banners were unfurled
There was no grand celebration or announcement when God entered the world.


When God stepped into the world
When God was born as a human and entered the physical world.


Held in the arms of a little girl
God was cradled and held by a young girl named Miriam.


Named Miriam
This little girl who held God in her arms was called Miriam.


Who would ever believe
It was hard for people to believe that Miriam, a young girl, was carrying the Son of God.


Your fiance, your family
Even Miriam's loved ones, like Joseph her fiance and her family, may have doubted her story.


The teenage pregnancy
Miriam got pregnant at a young age, which added to the doubt of her carrying God's child.


But laws of nature were suspended
Despite the disbelief, nature seemed to defy normal rules and allowed God's birth to happen through Miriam.


Death sentences rescinded
Jesus, the son of Miriam, came to give life and override the punishment of death that humans faced.


Throughout all the world
The impact of Jesus's birth and life can be felt everywhere.


And all because of a little girl named Miriam
Miriam's role in giving birth to Jesus played a huge part in the transformation of the world.


Medieval paintings glaring down
Images from past eras depicting Miriam can appear imposing and intimidating.


Stony figures judge and frown
Many depictions of religious figures may look stern and disapproving.


Wearing a halo like a crown
Miriam is often shown in artwork wearing a halo around her head to indicate her saintly status.


Could that be Miriam
The imagery around Miriam can sometimes lead to confusion and doubt over who she really was.


Gentile temples stained glass swirls
In other religious beliefs, including Christianity, Miriam is often portrayed in the colorful glass of places of worship.


Cherubim with golden curls
These images often feature cherubim, angelic children with golden hair, surrounding Miriam.


How unlike your Hebrew world
This imagery is different from Miriam's background as a Hebrew woman.


I don't know if you ascended
The singer doesn't know if Miriam ever ascended into heaven.


I don't care what's been amended
The artist is not concerned with the changes or amendments made to religious beliefs over time.


There was one sure miracle
One thing is certain: the miracle of Jesus's birth that came through Miriam.


The faith of a little girl named Miriam
The unwavering faith of Miriam played a significant role in the birth of Jesus and the transformation of Christianity.


Oh you are blessed indeed
Miriam is highly regarded and seen as a blessed woman.


Blessed is the fruit of your tree
Her son Jesus is also seen as a blessed and miraculous figure.


Yeshua kings of kings
Jesus is referred to as a powerful king who rules over all kings.


And son of Miriam
Jesus's mother Miriam played a crucial role in bringing him into the world.




Contributed by Sadie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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