"When he is king we will give him a king's gifts,

Myrrh for its sweetness, and gold for a crown,

Beautiful robes", said the young girl to joseph,

Fair with her first-born on bethlehem down.

Bethlehem down is full of the starlight,

Winds for the spices, and stars for the gold,

Mary for sleep, and for lullaby music,

Songs of a shepherd by bethlehem fold.

When he is king they will clothe him in grave-sheets,

Myrrh for embalming, and wood for a crown,

He that lies now in the white arms of mary,

Sleeping so lightly on bethlehem down

Here he has peace and a short while for dreaming,

Close-huddled oxen to keep him from cold,

Mary for love, and for lullaby music,

Songs of a shepherd by bethlehem down.