Sweet Little Jesus Boy
Robert MacGimsey Lyrics

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Sweet little Jesus boy, born in a manger
Sweet little Holy child, we didn't know who You were
Long time ago it seems You were born
Born in a manger Lord, sweet little Jesus boy

Didn't know You'd come to save us all
To take our sins away
Our eyes were blind we did not see

We didn't know who You were

You have shown us how
And we are trying
Master You have shown us how
Even as You were dying
This world treats You mean Lord
Treats me mean too
But that's how things are done down here
We didn't know it was You

Didn't know You'd come to save us all
To take our sins away

Our eyes were blind we did not see
We didn't know who You were

Overall Meaning

The song "Sweet little Jesus boy" by Robert MacGimsey is a beautifully crafted song that talks about the birth and purpose of Jesus Christ. The lyrics talk about how he was born in a manger and how people did not know who he was. It also portrays how people did not expect Jesus as their savior or the purpose he would serve. The lyrics go further and show how people are trying to follow Jesus even though the world treats him and his followers poorly.

The whole song is an ode to Jesus Christ, his humble birth, and his ultimate sacrifice. One of the notable things about the song is how perfectly it blends pain, suffering, and hope into its structure. The lyrics convey a sense of longing for salvation, and the song’s theme of recognizing the Messiah in hindsight, add to the interpretation of Jesus’ work on the cross.

In terms of music history, "Sweet little Jesus boy" has been performed by several artists over the years, including Nat King Cole and Mahalia Jackson. However, it was Mariah Carey’s version that reignited interest in the song’s powerful melodies and lyrics, catapulting it to the charts in the early 1990s.

Line by Line Meaning

Sweet little Jesus boy, born in a manger
Oh, precious and innocent baby Jesus, born in a lowly manger

Sweet little Holy child, we didn't know who You were
Oh, holy and special child, we did not recognize the full extent of your divinity

Long time ago it seems You were born
It feels like so many years have passed since your miraculous birth

Born in a manger Lord, sweet little Jesus boy
Born in a humble manger, oh dear Lord, sweet little Jesus

Didn't know You'd come to save us all
We did not realize that you were sent to save us all

To take our sins away
To remove our sins and grant us salvation

Our eyes were blind we did not see
We were spiritually blind and unable to understand your true purpose

You have shown us how
You have taught us the righteous way to live

And we are trying
We are doing our best to live according to your teachings

Master You have shown us how
Oh, Master, you have guided us with your wisdom and example

Even as You were dying
Even in your ultimate sacrifice, you continued to teach and inspire us