A poor orphan girl named Maria
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Was walking the market one day
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She stopped for to rest by the roadside
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Where a bird with a broken wing lay
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A few moments passed till she saw it
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For its feathers were covered with sand
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And soon cleaned and wrapped it was traveling
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In the warmth of Maria¡¯s small hand
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She happily gave her last peso
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On a cage made of rushes and twine
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She fed it loose corn from the market
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And watched it grow stronger with time
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Now the gift-giving service was coming
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And the church shone with tinsel and light
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And all of the townfolk brought presents
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To lay by the manger that night
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There where diamonds, incense and perfumes
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And packages fit for a king
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But for one ragged bird in a small cage
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Maria had nothing to bring
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She waited till just before midnight
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So no one would see her go in
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And crying she knelt by the manger
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For her gift was unworthy of him
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Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness
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¡°Maria, what brings you to me?
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If the bird in the cage is your offering
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Open the door, let me see¡±
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So she trembled, she did as he asked her
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And out of the cage the bird flew
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Soaring up into the rafters
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On a wing that had healed good as new
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Just then the midnight bells rang out
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And the little bird started to sing
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A song that no words could recapture
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For its beauty was fit for a king
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Now Maria felt blessed just to listen
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To that cascade of notes sweet and long
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As her offering was lifted to heaven
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By the very first nightingale¡¯s song
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(Stephanie Davis) ¨Ï 1990 EMI Blackwood Music Inc. and Beartooth Music. All Rights Controlled and administered by EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)
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Guitar and accordion: Gordie Sampson
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Violin: Bruce Dukov
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Cello: Larry Corbett
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Oboe and flute: Jon Clarke
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Violin, cello, oboe and flute arranged and
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conducted by David Campbell
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ORCHESTRA
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Leader: David Campbell
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Orchestra Contractor: Suzie Katayama
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Violin: Bruce Dukov (concertmaster), Darius Campo, Susan Chatman, Mario De Leon, Berj Garabedian, Peter Kent, Rachel Purkin, Michelle Richards, Mark Robertson
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Viola: Evan Wilson, Kazi Pitelka, Denyse Buffum, Matt Funes
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Cello: Larry Corbett, Dan Smith
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Bass: David Stone
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Woodwinds: Jon Clarke
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The Gift/Driftwood
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| Aselin Debison |
