Bm                        F#
From a dark desert highway, we pulled into the inn
A                        E
Rome called for a census, I was from Bethlehem
G                       D
Up above from a distance a star was giving me light
Em
My wife was heavy ‘cause her child was due
F#
We had to stop for the night

Bm                       F#
So I stood in the doorway of Bethlehem hotel
A                                       E
And I was thinking to myself "I hope to heaven they'll give me some help"
G                         D
But they told us no-can-do and they sent me away
Em                                       F#
"There's a place around the corner though where you both can stay"

G                            D
Welcome, but the hotel can't afford ya
       Em                     Bm
Such a lovely place but we're out of space
G                                   D
Ran out of room and the hotel can't afford ya
         E                     F#
It's the time of year with the census here

Bm                            F#
My wife was definitely gifted, that's what the Lord's angel said
A                               E
She was about to have a baby boy while still virgin
G                               D
Spent the night in the barnyard, cheap slumlord's rent
Em                    F#
Some night to remember, some night to forget

Bm                               F#
So because of what happened I was grieving for my wife
                                                                                   A     
                                     E
I said "They probably haven't cleaned in here since B.C. 65"
G                              D
Animal voices were calling for straw and hay
Em                                            F#
Keeping you up through the middle of the night just as if to say…

G                            D
Welcome, but the hotel can't afford ya
       Em                      Bm
Such a lovely place, but we're out of space
G                                D
Holiday rush and the hotel can't afford ya
       Em                     F#
What a nice surprise for your silent night


(Play next verse quieter)
Bm                          F#
He was born that evening and shepherds came that night
             A                             E
And they said "We're all just visitors here of the Holy Christ"
G                            D
And in an ass's manger, they found the boy asleep
Em                             F#
They started getting teary eyed so they went back to their sheep

Bm                              F#
Last thing I remember there were wise men at the door
A                                     E
They had a bunch of packages from the place they were before
G                                       D
"We're late," said the wise men "We had problems Christmas Eve
Em                                     F#
We've been checking out your shiny light all through the Middle East"