Once upon a Christmas Eve A shepherd who believed That peace could come to any man Made a promise to a star above The day that love began. "I will give to Him my lamb, A shepherd's all I am." And so he walked the lonely sand To find the place his heart was dreaming of The day that love began. Over meadows, over mountains They came from valleys and from streams. Every poet and every king And one little shepherd with a dream. But as the shepherd knelt to pray
His lamb just ran away And teardrops filled his empty hand. He broke his promise to a star above The day that love began. Then the smiling face of Mary Beckoned the shepherd to her side "Today you gave Him the best gift of all The moment that you cried." Oh, once upon a Christmas Eve A shepherd who believed That peace could come to any man Found the place his heart was dreaming of And he kept his promise to a star above The day that love began.