In the middle of a forest
There's a clearing by a stream
Where a mother holds her newborn

And the child begins to dream

And he dreams of hopes unspoken

When the tears of man will cease
And his mother holds him closer
For he is the Prince of peace


Let the bells ring out these tidings
Let it echo across the land

That a king is born in Bethlehem
And his kingdom is at hand


Let the world rejoice together
As it looks upon the stars
Knowing every man's our brother

And that every child is ours

Hark, the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled

Glory all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies


With the heavenly host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark, the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn king

In the middle of a forest

There's a clearing by a stream
Where a mother holds her newborn
And the child begins to dream


AS HE FLEW O'ER SARAJEVO
THERE WERE SCARS UPON THE LAND

THERE WERE SCARS UPON THE PEOPLE
IT WAS HARD TO UNDERSTAND


AND THE DEEPEST SCARS OF ALL
WHICH TO HUMANS ARE UNSEEN
BUT THE ANGEL COULD SEE CLEARLY

WERE THE SCARS UPON THE DREAMS

LIKE BELFAST AND BURUNDI

RWANDA, PALESTINE
THE ONLY DECORATIONS HERE
HAD BEEN AWARDED FOR THEIR CRIMES


AND IN THE GARDENS WHERE THE CHILDREN PLAYED
NOW SOLDIERS ONLY TROD

AND STRANGER STILL, HE HEARD SOME SAY
THAT THEY WERE KILLING FOR THEIR GOD


NOW THE ANGEL HEARD GOD SPEAK MANY TIMES
AND HE HAD ALWAYS PAID ATTENTION
BUT THIS KILLING OF ONES NEIGHBOR

WAS SOMETHING THE LORD HAD NEVER MENTIONED

BUT AS HE NEARED THE EARTH

OF A RECENT BATTLEGROUND
FROM AMONG THE RUINS
HE ONCE MORE HEARD THE SOUND


IT WAS A SINGLE CELLO PLAYING
A FORGOTTEN CHRISTMAS SONG

AND EVEN ON THAT BATTLEFIELD
THE SONG SOMEHOW BELONGED


AND AS HE FLEW AWAY
THE ANGEL DID TAKE NOTE
THAT WHERE HE FOUND MUSIC PLAYED

ONE ALWAYS COULD FIND HOPE