Harry Belafonte: Mary’s Boy Child

Remarks:

In the UK this outdid even “The Banana Boat Day-O)” (1956). It went to #1 in 1957 and would go on to sell over a million copies. In the US it “only” went to #12.

Harry Belafonte passed away this past week, among the last of his generation. Hard to believe, but he was born within five years of Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, James Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis. I will be doing a post on him.

Requiescat in pace. 

See also:

• songs
• Harry Belafonte
  • The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)

Lyrics:

Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the Holy Bible say
Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas day.

Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live forever more
Because of Christmas day.

While shepherds watched their flock by night
And see a bright new shining star
And hear a choir sing
The music seem to come from afar.

Now Joseph and his wife Mary
Come to Bethlehem that night
And find no place to borne she child
Not a single room was in sight.

Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live forever more
Because of Christmas day.

By and by they find a little nook
In a stable all forlorn
And in a manger cold and dark
Mary’s little boy was born.

Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live forever more
Because of Christmas day

Source: AZ Lyrics.