I wrote this Christmas anthem in the fall of 1999 – and envisioned it as the piece that all of the choirs would sing at the conclusion of that year’s Carthage Christmas Festival. (Honestly, I don’t recall if we ended up doing that or not.) I remember rushing to get it recorded by the Chamber Singers in order to include it in the compact disk recording we released that fall as a fundraiser for our upcoming European Choir Tour- but it ended up being recorded under less than ideal circumstances (in the choir room rather than Siebert.) There’s nothing wrong with how they sang it, but because of the recording’s technical shortcomings, I’m bypassing it here in favor of the recording made shortly thereafter by Caritas: Kate Potter Barrow, Kathy Berg, and yours truly. The only performance of this that has occurred outside of Carthage was when Dr. James Kinchen from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside asked to use it on one of his December concerts there. I was really touched and pleased by his interest in the song. Maybe one of these days I will get it prepared to share with would-be publishers.
The lyrics, similarly to my “Great and Glorious Light,” take us beyond the beauty of Bethlehem to later chapters in the story of Jesus – including his death and resurrection. Part of what is supposed to happen is for the song to gain in intensity (and volume) as the singers become more and more excited – before finally quieting down at the very end, as though they are suddenly realizing that they have become much too loud.
Refrain: Do not awaken the sleeping little Baby. Do not awaken the slumbering child.
He has many miles of bridges to build – and many high mountains to climb.
v. 1- All too soon, the Babe will become a shepherd…. guiding His sheep
even while they sleep.
Guarding His sheep when they’ve wandered away.
Guiding them back when they’ve gone astray. Do not awaken…
v. 2- All too soon, the Babe will become a preacher ….. sharing the Word
will all who haven’t heard.
Telling the rich to relinquish their crowns.
Telling them all where real riches are found. Do not awaken ….
v. 3- All too soon, the Babe will become our Savior ….. Saving the lost
even at an awful cost.
Yielding His life on Calvary’s tree
then rising again in Easter Victory! Do not awaken …..
v. 4- Come one and all to the little town of Bethlehem!
Follow the star to where Mary and Joseph and Jesus are!
There you will kneel with the oxen and sheep.
You can come take a look- but let the Baby sleep! Do not awaken ……