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Northern Lights

by Gretchen Peters

/
1.
The lamp is burnin' low upon my table top The snow is softly falling The air is still within the silence of my room I hear your voice softly calling If I could only have you near To breathe a sigh or two I would be happy just to hold the hands I love On this winter night with you The smoke is rising in the shadows overhead My glass is almost empty I read again between the lines upon each page The words of love you sent me If I could know within my heart That you were lonely too I would be happy just to hold the hands I love On this winter night with you The fire is dying now, my lamp is growing dim The shades of night are liftin' The morning light steals across my windowpane Where webs of snow are driftin' If I could only have you near To breathe a sigh or two I would be happy just to hold the hands I love On this winter night with you
2.
3.
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child, Bye, bye, lully, lullay Lullay, Thou little tiny Child. Bye, bye, lully, lullay O sisters, too, how may we do For to preserve this day; This poor Youngling for whom we sing Bye, bye, lully, lullay Herod the King, in his raging Charged he hath this day; His men of might, in his own sight All children young, to slay Then woe is me, poor Child, for Thee, And ever mourn and say For Thy parting, nor say nor sing, Bye, bye, lully, lullay Lullay, Thou little tiny Child, Bye, bye, lully, lullay Lullay, Thou little tiny Child. Bye, bye, lully, lullay
4.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die For poor on'ry people like you and like I; I wonder as I wander out under the sky When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all But high from God's heaven, a star's light did fall And the promise of ages it then did recall. If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing A star in the sky or a bird on the wing Or all of God's Angels in heaven to sing He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King I wonder as I wander out under the sky How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die For poor on'ry people like you and like I; I wonder as I wander out under the sky
5.
What babe is this - who cries no tears Who brought you forth - who laid you here? A little child, a tiny thing How can it be they call you king A baby in a manger born So early on a Christmas morn The angels sang, the heavens smiled And here you are, December child December child, so full of grace So humbly born, so highly praised They bring you gifts, they follow stars They say they know who you really are But you are still your mothers son They say you are the chosen one The kings and queens, the rank and file All know your name, December child While the shepherds watch they're keeping We lie sleeping December child, the world awaits And soon enough you'll meet your fate Your mother's arms will soon grow cold And yearn for her sweet babe to hold And all the world, in all its need Will soon be pulling at your sleeve So give her time, a little while And go to sleep December child
6.
Angels we have heard on high Singing sweetly through the night And the mountains in reply Echoing their brave delight. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why these songs of happy cheer? What great brightness did you see? What glad tiding did you hear? Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the new-born King. See him in a manger laid Whom the angels praise above; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, While we raise our hearts in love.
7.
…Joseph walked to Bethlehem Found no room there at the inn And knowing not what was to be He lay beside her patiently Waitin' on Mary The shepherds watched, the stars grew bright The angels said, "It's gonna be alright Just have some faith, just wait and see A miracle will come to be Waitin' on Mary And after all these centuries The world still has its refugees The losers in the human race But with the most amazing grace They're waitin' on Mary Faraway on some dark hill There are faithful waiting still Who have no hope but still believe Maybe tonight is Christmas eve And they're waitin' on Mary
8.
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago. Angels and archangels may have gathered there, cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; but his mother only, in her maiden bliss, worshiped the beloved with a kiss. Oh what can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, would I bring a lamb; if I were a Wise Man, would I do my part; yet what I can I give him: give my heart
9.
On a midnight survey of the town no place special, just around the snow fell down like feathers from the sky and all the good people were in their beds with the reading lamps on overhead and the curtains drawn against the night quiet now softly now careful how you go House to house to garden gate people waiting on buses that left too late Too late now, they're wishing they were home It gets slippery here, so watch your step we don't want to break the spell just yet the ice is thin, but maybe it will hold quiet now softly now careful how you go On a midnight survey of the town no place special just around the snow fell down like feathers from the sky
10.
Deep in December, the year has grown old The days have grown dark and the nights have turned cold And the hurts that we harbor, the debts that we owe Are sleeping down under a blanket of snow It covers the grasses, the bench in the park The scars in the earth where man's made his mark And high in the sky there's an unearthly glow Like a miracle sent to delight us below And all our cares seem immaterial Beneath a light so ethereal As if all our wrongs could be made right Oh darling, under the Northern Lights We wound and we're wounded by the tiniest acts We run from our ghosts and we cover our tracks And we try to make up for mistakes that we've made With presents and parties and christmas parades But I'm tired of the running, I'm taking my leave And the fire's burning low on this cold Christmas Eve All that I have is this evening to spend All that I want is to hold you again To linger awhile in the mystery To know the gift that's been given me Just to lie beside you this Christmas night Oh darling, under the Northern Lights
11.
Christmas time is here Happiness and cheer Fun for all That children call Their favorite time of year Snowflakes in the air Carols everywhere Olden times And ancient rhymes Of love and dreams to share Sleigh bells in the air Beauty everywhere Yuletide by the fireside And joyful memories there Christmas time is here Families drawing near Oh that we could always see Such spirit through the year Sleigh bells in the air Beauty everywhere Yuletide by the fireside And joyful memories there Christmas time is here Families drawing near Oh that we could always see Such spirit through the year
12.
Silent Night 03:57
silent night, holy night all is calm, all is bright round yon virgin mother and child holy infant so tender and mild sleep in heavenly peace sleep in heavenly peace silent night, holy night shepherds quake at the sight glories stream from heaven afar heavenly hosts sing alleluia Christ the savior is born Christ the savior is born silent night, holy night all is calm, all is bright round yon virgin mother and child holy infant so tender and mild sleep in heavenly peace sleep in heavenly peace

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released October 21, 2008

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Gretchen Peters Nashville, Tennessee

For two decades, Gretchen Peters has been one of Nashville's most beloved and respected artists. A 2014 inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Peters has accumulated accolades as both songwriter and artist. Her latest album, The Night You Wrote That Song: The Songs of Mickey Newbury (May 2020), is a loving tribute to another Hall of Fame songwriter. ... more

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