NEW LYRICS:
They’ve cancelled Christmas in Bethlehem
They’ve cancelled peace in Bethlehem
In a land once known as holy the gun is in control
They’ve cancelled Christmas in Bethlehem
They’ve cancelled freedom in Bethlehem
They’ve cancelled hope in Bethlehem
They’ve locked the little town behind a ghetto wall
They’ve cancelled Christmas in Bethlehem
Though angels are singing – they’re trapped behind the wall
Yet angels keep singing down in Beit Sahour
And if our Christmas songs and prayers are not to be in vain
We must pull down that prison wall that’s strangling Bethlehem
The wall must fall – the wall must fall
If peace on earth is to come
The wall must fall.
They’ve cancelled wise men in Bethlehem
They’ve cancelled shepherds in Bethlehem
They’ve stopped the wise men at the checkpoint
and the shepherds can’t leave home
They’re under curfew in Bethlehem.
Though angels are singing – they’re trapped behind the wall
Yet angels keep singing down in Beit Sahour
And if our Christmas songs and prayers are not to be in vain
We must pull down that prison wall that’s strangling Bethlehem
The wall must fall – the wall must fall
If peace on earth is to come
The wall must fall.
The wall must fall – the wall must fall
If peace on earth is to come
The wall must fall.
Words & Music by Garth Hewitt
OLD LYRICS:
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to all on earth!
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel!
