C
A poor orphan girl named Maria
G7
Was walking to market one day
She stopped for a rest by the roadside
C
Where a bird with a broken wing lay
A few moments passed till she saw it
G7
For its feathers were covered with sand
But soon clean and wrapped it was traveling
C
In the warmth of Maria's small hand
F
She happily gave her last peso
C
On a cage made of rushes and twine
F
She fed it loose corn from the market
C G7
And watched it grow stronger with time
C
Now the Christmas Eve service was coming
G7
And the church shone with tinsel and light
And all of the town folks brought presents
C
To lay by the manager that night
There were diamonds and incense and perfumes
G7
In packages fit for a king
But for one ragged bird in a small cage
C
Maria had nothing to bring
F
She waited till just before midnight
C
So no one would see her go in
F
And crying she knelt by the manger
C G7
For her gift was unworthy of Him
C
Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness
G7
Maria what brings you to Me
If the bird in the cage is your offering
C
Open the door let Me see
Though she trembled she did as He asked her
G7
And out of the cage the bird flew
Soaring up into the rafters
C
On a wing that had healed good as new
F
Just then the midnight bells rang out
C
And the little bird started to sing
F
A song that no words could recapture
C G7
Whose beauty was fit for a King
C
Now Maria felt blessed just to listen
G7
To that cascade of notes sweet and long
As her offering was lifted to heaven
C
By the very first nightingale's song