Advent Calendar – Christmas Day – 25th December, 2021 – The Virgin Mary had a baby Boy – Mary had a baby
Merry Christmas!
Danielle and Dave’s Advent Calendar, 2021
25th December, 2021 ~ CHRISTMAS DAY
The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy / Mary had a Baby
transcribed by Edric Connor (1915- 1968)
Mary Had a Baby— specially arranged for Everyone Matters
This West Indian carol, The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy, was taken down by Edric Connor in 1942 from the singing of James Bryce, then 92 years old.
It was printed in The Edric Connor Collection of West Indian Spirituals and Folk Tunes 1945 and became more widely known through its inclusion in The Cambridge Hymnal 1967. It is in calypso style and became popular when recorded by Harry Belafonte in 1958.
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There seems to be some confusion over the origins of Mary Had a Baby. Some say that it is a carol from Trinidad whilst others say that it is an African American Spiritual.
Elsewhere it is said to have been found in a collection of “American Folk Songs for Children” Ruth Crawford Seeger(Doubleday 1948). In turn Ms Seeger says she found it in “Saint Helena Island Spirituals” by N.G.J. Ballanta (Schirmer 1925) and the Penn Normal Industrial and Agricultural School of St. Helena Island, South Carolina.
There are various recorded versions of the song including by Mary Hopkin and Bruce Cockburn.
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I decided to put these two songs together as they complement each other in style beautifully.
1
The virgin Mary had a baby boy,
the virgin Mary had a baby boy,
the virgin Mary had a baby boy
and they say that his name is Jesus.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom;
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
O yes, believer! O yes, believer!
He come from the glory,
he come from the glorious kingdom.
2
The angels sang when the baby was born,
the angels sang when the baby was born,
the angels sang when the baby was born
and they sang that his name is Jesus.
He come from the glory, …
3
The shepherds came where the baby was born,
the shepherds came where the baby was born,
the shepherds came where the baby was born
and they say that his name is Jesus.
He come from the glory, …
Mary had a baby (my Lord/oh my Lord/my Lord) x3
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Where did she lay him (my Lord) x3
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Laid him in a manger (my Lord) x3
The people keep coming but the train has gone
What did she name him? (My Lord) x3
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Named him King Jesus (my Lord) x3
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Who heard the singing? (My Lord) x3
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Shepherds heard the singing (my Lord) x3
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Star keeps shining (my Lord) x3
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Moving in the elements (my Lord) x3
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Jesus went to Egypt (my Lord) x3
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Traveled on a donkey (my Lord) x3
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Angels went around him (my Lord) x3
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Recorded on David Concert Harp ~ 2000
https://www.jubilate.co.uk/songs/the_virgin_mary_had_a_baby_boy
https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dw.asp?dc=W18785_GBAKR0813316
http://www.stephengriffith.com/folksongindex/mary-had-a-baby/