Human Nature sing a Christmas classic
Photos courtesy of www.humannature.com.au
Written in 1956 by Jester Hairston, “Mary’s Boy Child” was recorded by Harry Belafonte for his 1956 album, An Evening with Belafonte. Since then, the carol has been recorded numerous times and continues to be widely performed on Christmas Day. Other famous performers who have recorded the song include Nat King Cole, Tom Jones and Connie Talbot. More recently, the famous Australian vocal group Human Nature recorded a new version of the song for their first Christmas album, The Christmas Album, which was released in November last year. Human Nature’s debut album, Telling Everybody, was released in 1996. The group achieved international success with their 1999 album, Counting Down, which featured the smash hits “Eternal Flame” and “Every Time You Cry.”
“Mary’s Boy Child”
By Human Nature
Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the Holy Bible say
Mary’s boy child Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas Day
While shepherds watched their flock by night
They saw a bright new shining star
They heard a choir sing a song
The music seemed to come from afar
Chorus
Hark now hear the angels sing
A new king born today
And man will live forever more
Because of Christmas Day
Now Joseph and his wife, Mary
Came to Bethlehem that night
They found no place to bear her child
Not a single room was in sight
By and by they found a little nook
In a stable all forlorn
And in a manger cold and dark
Mary’s little boy child was born
(Chorus)
Trumpets sound and angels sing
Listen to what they say
That man will love forever more
Because of Christmas Day
Exercises
Write down the noun forms of the following words used in the lyrics.
1. born ………………
2. sing ………………
3. shining ………………
4. bright ………………
Vocabulary
- choir (n): a group of people who sing together, for example in church services or public performances
nook (n): a small quiet place or corner that is sheltered or hidden from other people
stable (n): a building in which horses are kept
forlorn (adj): not cared for
manger (n): a long open box that horses and cows can eat from
