Thursday, December 24, 2009

My Favorite Christmas Song

There are many Christmas songs and carols out there and while I like many of them that I like there are a few that I really enjoy. But there is one Christmas song that I would have to say is my favorite. It is called "Mary's Lullaby" written by Bertha Kleinman with music by Wanda West Palmer [Update 12/25/13: You can purchase the sheet music here]. Most people who read this blog may recognize the song from the Mesa Easter Pageant but it was written long before it was used in the pageant. Below are two videos of performances of the song.



The accompanying text for this video reads: "This recording was made in 1980 at a church Christmas program. Mary was holding her nine-day-old son, Kristopher. She was first privileged to perform this song in the early 1970s before it was even published and has been invited to sing it many times since, so she almost feels like it is her song. The music was written by Wanda West Palmer and the words by Bertha Kleinman."



The accompanying text for this video reads: "This recording was made in 2003 at a church Christmas program. Mary was holding her 2 month old grandson Kevin. 23 years earlier, she sang this song to Kevins father, Kristopher, who was nine-days-old at the time. (See [The first video]). Mary considers this is her songs as she was first privileged to perform it in the early 1970s before it was even published. The song was written by Wanda West Palmer and the words were written by Bertha Kleinman. It has been a part of the Easter Pagent at the Mesa Arizona Temple for many years."

For those who are interested the lyrics read:
All mine in your loveliness, Baby, all mine;
All mine in your holiness, Baby Divine.
Sing on, herald angels, in chorus sublime;
Sing on and adore, For tonight you are mine.
The wise men are coming to worship their king.
The shepherds are kneeling, their homage to bring.
Out yonder, the star over Judah will keep;
No harm can befall thee, then sleep, Baby, sleep.
Oh, let me enfold thee, my baby, tonight;
While legions are singing in joyous delight.
A new star has risen to hail thee divine,
For you are a king, But tonight you are mine.
Away spectered future of sorrow and plight.
Away to the years that must follow tonight.
The pangs of Gethsemane, let them be dim;
The red drops on Calvary, not, Lord, for him!
Oh, let me enfold thee, my baby, tonight;
While legions are singing in joyous delight.
A new star has risen to hail thee divine,
For you are a king, But tonight you are mine.
All mine in your loveliness, Baby, all mine;
All mine in your holiness, Baby Divine.
Sing on, herald angels, in chorus sublime;
Sing on and adore, For tonight you are mine.

2 comments:

Tiffany said...

I had forgotten that song! It is lovely. Thanks!

Merry Christmas to you!

Tenise said...

This is beautiful. I really enjoyed singing along with you to my 2 week old baby boy tonight. ❤️