In the Same Country

The great world was wea­ry and turned from the light;

The sin­ful were tired of sin­ning and slept;

But shep­herds abode with their flocks by night

And in the same coun­try their faith­ful watch kept.

No wel­come for strang­ers

for ba­by no room

Save one lit­tle manger up­on the cold ground

As Ma­ry and Jo­seph drew nigh through the gloom

And in the same coun­try a rest­ing place found.

Above the dark hill­tops there shone a bright star

As Beth­le­hem woke to its first Christ­mas morn;

And songs of great joy filled the heav­ens afar

For in the same coun­try child Je­sus was born.

O hearts that are hea­vy

O sad and for­lorn

O poor feet that fal­ter and halt by the way

Rejoice! Un­to man­kind a Sav­ior is born—

This is the same coun­try

’tis Christ­mas to­day.