The road was dusty rough and long
Her labour pains were getting strong
Hands were full as night closed in on them
Young Mary made it to a barn
Leaning hard on Joseph's arm
His coat and straw would make for her a bed
That night in Bethlehem, city of bread
Long promised bread of life was born
Brightest star and darkest night
Treasure and loss
The Word and the Bread of Life
The manger and the cross
A wooden manger was His bead
A bag of grain held His sweet head
The borrowed cave became His borrowed home
Some borrow neighbours came to see
This fragile baby eternity
Lying there in Mary's arms awake
And did the carpenter feel the rough wood
Was there in Mary's heart some pain
Brightest star and darkest night
Treasure and loss
The Word and the Bread of Life
The manger and the cross
O come and place a baby's face
Where all heaven and earth
Dance in the light
All the hopes and fears
Of all the years
Are met in you
Tonight, tonight
Tender head and rugged wood
Deepest hunger holy food
The breath of God comes right to where we are
Oh yes, that night in Bethlehem city of bread
Long promised bread of life was born
Brightest glory, darkest night
Treasure and loss
The Word and the Holy Seed
The Word and the Holy Seed
The manger and the cross
