Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Nothing But A Child

"Nothing But A Child"
by Steve Earl

Once upon a time, in a far off and
Wise Men saw a sign, and set out 'cross the sand
Songs of praise to sing, they traveled day and night
Precious gifts to bring, guided the light.

They chased a brand new star, ever toward the west
Across the mountains far, but when it came to rest
They scarce believed their eyes, they'd come so many miles
And the miracle they prized, was nothing but a child.

Nothing but a child, could wash those tears away
Or guide a weary world, into the light of day
Nothing but a child, could help erase those miles
So once again we all, can be children for awhile.

Now all across the world, in every little town
Every day is heard, a precious little sound
And every mother kind, and every father proud
Looks down in awe to find, another chance allowed.

Happy Seasons. TR, El Paso

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

All day o'er the praries alone I ride,
Not even a dog to run by my side;
My fire I kindle with chips gathered round,
And boil my coffee without being ground.
Bread lacking leaven I bake in a pot,
And sleep on the ground for want of a cot;
I wash in a puddle and wipe on a sack
And carry my wardrobe all on my back.

My ceiling the sky, my carpet the grass,
My music the lowing of herds as they pass;
My books are the brooks, my sermons the stones,
My parson's a wolf on a pulpit of bones.
But then if my cooking ain't very complete,
Hygenists can't blame me for living to eat.
And where is the man who sleeps more profound
Than the cowboy who stretches himself on the ground?

My books teach me constancy ever to prize,
My sermons that small things I should not despise,
And my parson remarks from his pulpit of bone
The "The Lord favors those who look out for their own."
Between love and me lies a gulf very wide,
And a luckier fellow may call her his bride;
But Cupid is always a friend to the bold,
And the best of his arrows are pointed with gold.

Friends gently hint I am going to grief,
But men must make money and women have beef,
Society bans me a savage and dodge,
And Masons would ball me out of their lodge.
If I'd hair on my chin I might pass for the goat
That bore all sin in ages remote;
But why this is thusly I don't understand,
For each of the patriarchs owned a big brand.

Abraham emigrated in search of a range
When water got scarce and he wanted a change;
Isaac had cattle in charge of Esau,
And Jacob "ran cows" for his father-in-law.
He started in business clear down at bedrock
And made quite a fortune by watering stock,
David went from night-herding and using a sling
To winning a battle and being a king.

And the shepherds when watching their flocks on the hill
Heard the message from heaven of "Peace and Good Will."

(Kansas Cowboy, Dodge City, April 25, 1885)

editor said...

Always thought that was about the perfect Christmas song. It's one of a very few that I willingly play at this time of year.

One of our best songwriters.

Unknown said...

Great Steve Earle song.
Funny, I bought my first Steve Earle CD and my first Tom Russell CD together :-)).