Around Christmas time each year at the old Gate of Horn in Chicago, folk singers would perform slow legato versions of this old spiritual. They were usually sopranos accompanying themselves on the autoharp. I often wondered what this song would have sounded like on the 12-string, so here is my interpretation with lots of bass runs on the big Martin D-12-45,in the style of the great 12-string legend, Lead Belly.
Lyrics:
[Em] The Virgin Mary had a little baby
Oh oh glory hallelujah
[Am] Oh oh pretty little baby
[Em] Glory be to the [B7] new born [Em] king
Oh oh glory hallelujah
[Am] Oh oh pretty little baby
[Em] Glory be to the [B7] new born [Em] king
Mary what-cha gonna name your pretty little baby
Oh oh glory hallelujah
Oh oh pretty little baby
Glory be to the new born king
Well some call Him one thing I know His name is Jesus
Oh oh glory hallelujah
Oh oh I know His name is Jesus
Glory be to the new born king
Some call Him one thing I'm gonna call Him Savior
Oh oh glory hallelujah
Oh oh I'm gonna call Him Savior
Glory be to the new born king
The Virgin Mary had a little baby
Oh oh glory hallelujah
Oh oh pretty little baby
Glory be to the new born king