Mary's Boy Child

by Jester Hairston

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Lyrics

Long (Bb)time a go in (Eb)Beth le hem, so the Ho ly Bi ble say,

Ma ry’s Boy Child, (Eb)Je sus Christ was (Bb)born on (F7)Christ mas (Bb)Day.

(Bb)Hark, now (Eb)hear the (F7)an gels (Bb)sing, a (Gm)new King (Cm)born to (F)day,

(Am7)and (Bb)man will live for (Eb)ev er more, be (Bb)cause of (F7)Christ mas (Bb)Day.

Trum pets (Eb)sound and (F7)an gels (Bb)sing, (Gm)lis ten to (Cm)what they (F)say,

(Am7)that (Bb)man will live for (Eb)ev er more, be (Bb)cause of (F7)Christ mas (Bb)Day.

While shep herds watched their (Eb)flocks by night, them see a (F)bright new shin ing (Bb)star,

them hear a choir (Eb)sing, the mu sic (Bb)seemed to (F7)come from a (Bb)far.

Now Jo seph and his (Eb)wife, Ma ry, come to (F)Beth le hem that (Bb)night,

them find no place to (Eb)born she Child, not a (Bb)sin gle (F7)room was in (Bb)sight.

(Bb)Hark, now (Eb)hear the (F7)an gels (Bb)sing, a (Gm)new King (Cm)born to (F)day,

(Am7)and (Bb)man will live for (Eb)ev er more, be (Bb)cause of (F7)Christ mas (Bb)Day.

Trum pets (Eb)sound and (F7)an gels (Bb)sing, (Gm)lis ten to (Cm)what they (F)say,

(Am7)that (Bb)man will live for (Eb)ev er more, be (Bb)cause of (F7)Christ mas (Bb)Day.

While shep herds watched their (Eb)flocks by night, them see a (F)bright new shin ing (Bb)star,

them hear a choir (Eb)sing, the mu sic (Bb)seemed to (F7)come from a (Bb)far.

Now Jo seph and his (Eb)wife, Ma ry, come to (F)Beth le hem that (Bb)night,

them find no place to (Eb)born she Child, not a (Bb)sin gle (F7)room was in (Bb)sight.

(Bb)Day.

(Bb)Day.

(Eb)Be (Bb)cause of (F7)Christ mas (Bb)Day.

Mary's Boy Child by Jester Hairston — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Mary's Boy Child” by Jester Hairston in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of Eb at 110 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Mary's Boy Child" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Mary's Boy Child"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "Mary's Boy Child" use?
Just 8 chords: Am7, Bb, Bbsus4, Cm, Eb, F, F7, Gm. Take it one section at a time.