Labor Of Love
Randy Travis (Holiday) Lyrics
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You could hear a woman cry in the alleyway that night on the streets of David's town
And the stable was not clean and the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace with tears upon her face had no mother's hand to hold
[Chorus]
It was a labor of pain, it was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark with every beat of her beautiful heart
Noble Joseph by her side, callused hands and weary eyes
No midwives to be found on the streets of David's town in the middle of the night
So he held her and he prayed, shafts of moonlight on his face
But the baby in her womb, he was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the Faith that could make the mountains move
[Chorus]
It was a labor of pain, it was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark with every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love
For little Mary full of grace, with tears on her face
It was a labor of love
It was not a silent night, on the streets of David's town
Randy Travis' "Labor Of Love" is a song about the night of Jesus' birth, when Mary gave birth to the Son of God in a stable in Bethlehem. The song describes the harsh realities of that night, with the depiction of a dirty stable, cobblestones, and a woman in labor on the cold ground.
The first verse of the song sets the scene of that night, describing the painful labor of a young, pregnant Mary who had no mother to hold her hand. The chorus speaks to the difficult circumstances, with "blood on the ground" and a "cold sky above," but notes that for Mary, it was a "labor of love" as every beat of her heart was for her baby.
The second verse notes the presence of Joseph, Mary's husband, who is described as "noble" with callused hands and weary eyes. The portrayal of the couple as poor and without resources is further emphasized by the absence of midwives to help during the birth. The verse also alludes to the divine nature of Jesus, stating that he was "the Author of the Faith that could make the mountains move."
Overall, the lyrics of "Labor Of Love" paint a vivid picture of the difficult circumstances of Jesus' birth, but also highlight the love, devotion, and sacrifice that characterized that momentous event.
Line by Line Meaning
It was not a silent night, there was blood on the ground
The night wasn't quiet and peaceful, but rather one filled with chaos and violence.
You could hear a woman cry in the alleyway that night on the streets of David's town
The sounds of a woman in distress could be heard from the alleyways of the town.
And the stable was not clean and the cobblestones were cold
The stable they were in was not a comfortable place, with dirty surroundings and cold conditions.
And little Mary full of grace with tears upon her face had no mother's hand to hold
Mary, who was still just a child, was left without her mother to comfort her during this trying time.
It was a labor of pain, it was a cold sky above
The whole experience was extremely difficult and painful, with the cold and dark night adding to the struggle.
But for the girl on the ground in the dark with every beat of her beautiful heart
Despite the challenges, Mary's determination and strength shone through, as evidenced by the steady heartbeat of the baby within her.
It was a labor of love
The whole ordeal was an act of love - both the love Mary had for her child, and the love that God had for humanity in sending his son in this manner.
Noble Joseph by her side, callused hands and weary eyes
Joseph, although exhausted and worn out, remained by Mary's side to support her through the pain.
No midwives to be found on the streets of David's town in the middle of the night
There was nobody available to assist with the birth - a difficult and dangerous task that midwives would typically handle.
So he held her and he prayed, shafts of moonlight on his face
Joseph could only provide physical and emotional support as Mary gave birth, praying for their safety as the moon shone down upon them.
But the baby in her womb, he was the maker of the moon
Despite the humble surroundings, Mary's child was no ordinary baby, but rather the miraculous son of God.
He was the Author of the Faith that could make the mountains move
This child, who had not yet even been born, was the embodiment of the unbreakable faith that people can possess.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW PETERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind