I Wonder as I Wander (Appalachia) ~ Words and Music collected by John Jacob Niles, 1933

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I…
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus ’twas in a cow’s stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have it, ’cause he was the King.

Many thanks to Father Matthew Green from St. Ann’s Church for posting his photo of the St. Ann’s Nativity scene on Good Morning Gloucester blog. I was looking for an image to go with this hauntingly beautiful Christmas carol and was inspired to go see the nativity at the rectory after seeing his photo posted on GMG.