For a wintry and starry night in Hades

It's not often I hear a Christmas song I've never heard before, and even less often that I will like it. This came on the CBC "Seasonal Favourites" web radian station at their music web site (an eclectic mix and actually quite bearable) yesterday afternoon while I was waiting for younger daughter to come home. It was recorded in 2004 by James Taylor and written by Academy-Award-winning score writer Dave Grusin with lyrics by fellow-songwriter and singer Sally Stevens



Who comes this night, this wintry night,
As to the lowly manger?
The shepherds and the kings did come
To welcome in the stranger.

Who sends this song upon the air,
To ease the soul that's aching?
To still the cry of deep despair
And heal the heart that's breaking.

Brother Joseph bring the light
Fast, the night is fading.
And who will come this wintry night
To where the stranger's waiting?

Who comes this night, with humble heart,
To give the fullest measure
A gift of purest love to bring
What good and worthy treasure.

Brother Joseph bring the lamb
For they are asking for him
The children come this starry night
To lay their hearts before him.

For those who would the stranger greet
Must lay their heart before him
And raise their song in voices sweet
To worship and adore him

Brother Joseph bring the light
Fast, the night is fading
And who will come this wintry night
To where the stranger's waiting

Brother Joseph bring the lamb
For they are asking for him.
The children come this starry night
To lay their hearts before him.

Pure of heart this starry night
To lay their hearts before him.