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The Lonely Shepherd

from Old Man Winter, Vol. 7 by Ben Smith

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about

Lyrics by Steven Hanna
Music by Ben Smith

lyrics

on a cold winter evening
longing for sleep
a group of old shepherds
were tending their sheep

bundling their cloaks up,
breathing into cupped hands
the ones who dozed off
dreamed of distant homelands

but one little boy
stood apart from the rest
wanting neither a pillow nor a blanket for heat
his father, a shepherd,
had upon him impressed
“nothing's more important than tending the sheep”

and it was the coldest of nights
from on high there came a bright light
sheep and shepherds both trembled in fright
but the little boy sprang to his feet

a beautiful echoing voice
promising tidings of great joys
all the men wept just like little boys
but the little boy just herded up the sheep

swaddled up in a stable
just down the road
lay the most wonderous child
the world had known

the shepherds were so happy
they threw down their crooks
they just couldn't wait
to go have a look

and they said to the boy
"aren't you coming, son?
this is something, you know, that really must be seen
it's not every day
that a savior is born"
but the boy said "someone's must tend to the sheep"

so they went and left him alone
dancing toward where the star shone
the little boy sat on a cold stone
and as he watched he started to weep

though he tried hard to shake off the tears
a minute alone felt like ninety years
surrounded by only his sheep and his fears
till it seemed there were more fears than sheep

up above the clouds
where the angels all play
it had been a long time
since so busy a day
God was so nervous

handing seraphs cigars
there were heavenly holes worn
from his pacing the floor

but then one of his angels
tapped his shoulder and said
"sir, there's one little boy whose joy's far from complete"
"I know," God said,
nodding his head,
"I'm so happy he's tending my sheep"

he sent the angel speeding through the night
to bathe the boy in the warmest of lights
it washed away the tears and the fright
God allows no sadness on Christmas Eve

the angel took the crook and gave the boy a kiss
saying "we're so proud of all you've done with this,
but some birthday parties simply cannot be missed,
so for tonight you can trust me with the sheep"

so from the back of a manger
the boy could finally see
the very best shepherd
that there ever will be

credits

from Old Man Winter, Vol. 7, released December 17, 2019

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Ben Smith West Chester, Pennsylvania

West Chester, PA songwriter Ben Smith's songs sound good in both your front parlor and your back barroom---all Tin Pan Alley piano and a fading choirboy voice.

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