Johnny Cash
"The Christmas Spirit" lyrics

The Christmas Spirit

Praises sing to Christ the King
And peace to men on earth

On Christmas Eve
I dreamed I traveled
All around the earth
And in my dream
I saw and heard
The ways the different people
Hail the King
Whose star shone in the east
And what a dream it was

In London Town
I walked around Piccadilly Circus
A mass of people moving here and there
I wondered where
On every face at every place was
"Hurry up, I'm late"
But a kind old man
At a chestnut stand said
"Merry Christmas mate"
And I felt the Christmas spirit

In a little town nestled down
In Bavaria Germany
I walked along to see
What the feeling there would be
And here again was the busy din
The rushing, the yelling
But some kind boy said
"Frohliche Weihnachten"
Not understanding the words
But getting the buying and selling
I felt the Christmas spirit

In Bethlehem I heard a hymn
Some distant choir sang
And with other tourists I walked along
To a Church as its bells rang
Then I heard someone tell someone
"There's where Christ was born"
I wonder if He looked like our baby
Looked on that first morn
And then I really felt the Christmas spirit

From a businessman in the Holy Land
At a sidewalk souvenirshop
I bought a little Bible
Since I'd already stopped
And it was in Paris France
Somehow by chance
That I took the Bible out
As I flipped the pages I saw these words
And I knew what it was all about

For I read
"Fear not for behold I bring you
Good tidings of great joy
Which shall be to all people
For unto you He was born this day
In the City of David, a Saviour
Which is Christ the Lord"

Then I took the little holy book
Held it close and tight
I closed my eyes and visualized
The glory of that night
So suddenly it came to me
For when I awoke on Christmas day
I felt the Christmas spirit
Down deep inside to stay

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