The Christmas Guest

D  D  D  D

D
 It happened one day near December's end
                               C
Two neighbors called on an old friend
And they found his shop so meager and lean
                       A
Made gay with thousand bows of green
And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine
                 D
When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine
                                    D
And he said "Old friends, at dawn today
D
 When the cock was crowing the night away
The Lord appeared in a dream to me
C
 And said "I'm coming your guest to be."

C
 So I've been busy with feet astir
A
Strewing my shop with branches of fern
    A
The table is spread and the kettle is shined
D
 And over the rafters the holly is twined
D                               G
 Now I'll wait for my Lord to appear
And listen closely so I will hear
                               Em
His step as He nears my humble place
                           G
And I'll open the door and look on His face

A
 So his friends went home and left Conrad alone
                          D
For this was the happiest day he had known
For long since, his family had passed away
G
 And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas Day
                     Em
But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas Guest
This Christmas would be the dearest and best
      A
So he listened with only joy in his heart
And with every sound he would rise with a start
D
 And look for the Lord to be at his door
Like the vision he had had a few hours before
D
 So he ran to the window after hearing a sound
                                         C
But all he could see on the snow covered ground
Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn
                            A
And all of his clothes were ragged and worn

A
 But Conrad was touched and he went to the door
D
 And he said, "You know, your feet must be frozen and sore
            D
I have some shoes in my shop for you
And a coat that will keep you warmer too."
                 C
So with grateful heart the man went away
But Conrad noticed the time of day
    A
And wondered what made the Lord so late
And how much longer he'd have to wait
D
 When he heard a knock, he ran to the door
                  G
But it was only a stranger once more
A bent old lady with a shawl of black
      D
With a bundle of kindling piled on her back
She asked for only a place to rest
   A
But that was reserved for Conrad's Great Guest

                             D
But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me away
                                    G
Let me rest for awhile on Christmas Day"
So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup
                                     Em
And told her to sit at the table and sup
But after she left he was filled with dismay
A
 For he saw that the hours were slipping away
                                       D
And the Lord hadn't come as he said he would
Then Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood
D
 When out of the stillness he heard a cry
'Please help me and tell me where am I?"
C
 So again he opened his friendly door
And stood disappointed as twice before
A
 It was only a child who'd wandered away
                                          D
And was lost from her family on Christmas Day

Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad
       D
But he knew he should make the little girl glad
So he called her in and he wiped her tears
   C
And quieted all her childish fears
Then he led her back to her home once more
A
 But as he entered his own darkened door
D
 He knew the Lord was not coming today
                               G
For the hours of Christmas had passed away

      G
So he went to his room and knelt down to pray
       Em
And he said "Dear Lord, why did you delay?
A
 What kept you from coming to call on me?
                     D
For I wanted so much your face to see.'
                         G
When soft in the silence a voice he heard
"Lift up your head for I kept my word
Em
  Three times my shadow crossed your floor
                       A
And three times I came to your lonely door
I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet
D
 And I was the woman you gave something to eat
                                D
I was the child on the homeless street
Three times I knocked, and three times I came in
C
 And each time I found the warmth of a friend
A
 Of all the gifts, love is the best
          D
And I was honored to be your Christmas Guest

Cifra adaptada de fontes públicas. Direitos da composição pertencem aos autores e gravadoras originais. Esta página é parte do projeto educacional Mania de Músico.