THE BALLAD of the BROWN KING

text by Langston Hughes

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I. Of the Three Wise Men

Of the three wise men 

Who came to the king 

One was a brown man 

So they sing 

Alleluia 

Of the three wise men 

Who followed the star 

One was a brown king 

From afar.

 

II. They Brought Fine Gifts

They brought fine gifts 

Of silver and gold 

In jeweled boxes 

Of beauty untold 

Unto his humble 

Manger they came and

Bowed their heads 

In Jesus name

 

III. Alleluia

Sing Alleluia to our King.

 

IV. Mary Had a Little Baby

Mary had a little baby

Jesus, that was his name.

All the world became much brighter

When little Jesus the Christ child came.

 

That was in a lowly manger,

Outside the night was cold.

But within that lowly manger,

Behold how warm his love is; oh behold!

 

Mary had a little baby

In the night a bright star shone;

I, so lost, so lost and lonely

Never more to be alone.

 

V. Now When Jesus Was Born

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem,

In the days of Herod the king

Behold there came was men from the east

Saying “Where is he that was born?

For we have seen his star in the east,

Oh we have seen his star.”

 

VI. Could He Have Been An Ethiope?

Could he have been an Ethiope

From an Ethiopian land?

I do not know just who he was,

But he was a kingly man.

 

Could he have been an Egyptian king

From the land where the sun shines bright?

I don’t know just who he was

But followed the star that night.

 

Could he have been a tall, dark king?

Maybe Arabian?

I do not know just who he was,

But he was a wise, wise man.

 

Of all the kings who came to call,

One was dark like me.

And I’m so glad that he was there

Our little Christ to see.

 

Follow, follow the star tonight,

Our little Christ to see.

 

VII. Sing of the King Who Was Tall & Brown

Oh, sing of the king 

Who was tall and brown

Crossing the desert

From a distant town.

 

Crossing the desert

On a caravan

His gifts to bring

From a distant land.

 

His gifts to bring 

From a palm tree land,

Across the sand

By caravan.

 

With a single star

To guide his way

To Bethlehem

Where the Christ child lay.

 

Oh, sing of the king

Who was tall and brown

And the other kings

That this king found

 

Who came to put

Their presents down

In a lowly manger

In Bethlehem town.

Where the king of kings

A babe was found.

 

Three kings who came

To the king of kings

And one was tall and brown.

 

VIII. That Was a Christmas Long Ago

That was a Christmas

Long ago,

When the three wise men

Bowed so low,

 

The three wise men

Who followed the star,

One was a brown man

From afar.

 

The three wise men

Who came to the king;

One was a brown man

So they sing.

 

IX. Alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia!

Christ the king.

Alleluia, alleluia!

So they sing!

 

He is Christ the king;

Alleluia, Christ the king.

Alleluia, praise his name!

 

Alleluia, Christ the king!

Alleluia! They did sing.

Alleluia, Christ the king!