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It Started in a Manger

from That Time of Year by Rick Paul

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The "That Time of Year" EP closes with "It Started in a Manger". This is the only one of the four songs that has been recorded and released before, initially by the Altarmen & Julie back in 1998. Lana Kress recorded her version the following year, and an earlier recording of my own version came out on a multi-artist charity album called "Ho Ho Ho Spice" back in 2002. That song starts out in a downtown Christmas scene complete with a "cardboard Santa advertising the sale at the corner store." I guess that's pretty typical of "that time of year." The real message of the song, though, comes in the reminder that "it started in a manger" with "no tinseled trees, no Santa Claus, no twinkling Christmas lights."

lyrics

It Started in a Manger
words and music by Rick Paul

Walking down the downtown streets
I see dancing Christmas lights
And the tinsel on the Christmas trees
Shimmers in the night
There's a cardboard Santa advertising
The sale at the corner store
And the streets are trimmed in red and green
With wreathes on every door

But it started in a manger
One cold wintry night
No tinseled trees, no Santa Claus
No twinkling Christmas lights
And the Babe was born on a bed of hay
While the ox and lamb looked on
There were no presents under a tree
That first cold Christmas dawn

Underneath the freeway ramp
A tall, dark figure stands
Rubbing palms beneath his nose
To try and warm his hands
And though he'll have no bed tonight
No gifts under a tree
He knows Christmas is for him
The same as you and me

'Cause it started in a manger
One cold wintry night
No tinseled trees, no Santa Claus
No twinkling Christmas lights
And the Babe was born on a bed of hay
While the ox and lamb looked on
There were no presents under a tree
That first cold Christmas dawn

© 1998 Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

credits

from That Time of Year, released November 21, 2006
Words and music by Rick Paul.

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Rick Paul Laguna Hills, California

Rick Paul's songs combine memorable pop/rock and country melodies with mature, often thought provoking, lyrics on life and love. His singing has drawn comparisons to Dan Hill, Randy Newman, and Neil Young, while his piano playing is most frequently compared to Rick’s biggest musical influence, Elton John. Rick performs frequently in Orange County, California. ... more

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