A poor orphan girl named Maria
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Was walking to 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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But soon clean and wrapped it was travelling
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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 Christmas Eve service was coming
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And the church shone with tinsel and light
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And all of the townfolks brought presents
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To lay by the manger that night
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There were diamonds and incense
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And perfumes
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In 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 and let me see
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Though 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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Whose 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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The Gift
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Garth Brooks |