Mary grows a child without the help of a man

Joseph get upset because he doesn't understand

Angel comes to Joseph in a powerful dream

Says "God did this and you're part of his scheme"

Joseph comes to Mary with his hat in his hand

Says "forgive me I thought you'd been with some other man"

She says "what if I had been -- but I wasn't anyway and guess what

I felt the baby kick today"



(CHORUS:)

Like a stone on the surface of a still river

Driving the ripples on forever

Redemption rips through the surface of time

In the cry of a tiny babe



The child is born in the fullness of time

Three wise astrologers take note of the signs

Come to pay their respects to the fragile little king

Get pretty close to wrecking everything

'Cause the governing body of the whole land

Is that of Herod, a paranoid man

Who when he hears there's a baby born King of the Jews

Sends death squads to kill all male children under two

But that same bright angels warns the parents in a dream

And they head out for the border and get away clean



(Chorus)



There are others who know about this miracle birth

The humblest of people catch a glimpse of their worth

For it isn't to the palace that the Christ child comes

But to shepherds and street people, hookers and bums

And the message is clear if you've got ears to hear

That forgiveness is given for your guilt and your fear

It's a Christmas gift you don't have to buy

There's a future shining in a baby's eyes



(Chorus)



(Toronto, March 1, 1990)