Songs from One-Star Bethlehem Hotel

About ten years ago I wrote a children's Christmas musical for a friend who was a children's pastor. Most of the songs were Christmas carols, but there were two originals. I thought they'd been lost, but I found a single copy of them a few days ago.

Innkeeper's Song

The One-Star Bethlehem Hotel
Has never had it quite so well
More strangers hanging on the bell each passing day!
Decrees of emperors and kings
Make friends of quite unfriendly things.
If they have Roman coin to fling, then they can stay!

Six shabby rooms and dingy beds
Await those travel-weary heads
If this keeps up I'll get to say "No Vacancies"!!!
They dine with us with open purse.
The food is bad, the service worse.
They have no choice, the Sheraton's been booked for weeks.

Yes, this One-Star Bethlehem Hotel
With work and diligence will spell
Salvation from the bailiff's cell and poverty.
Historians will write some day
How I found heaven in this hay
And made my way exploiting opportunity.

      But in the quiet heart of night
I waken in a shaken fright
Because my wife and children take flight from my voice.
And all the joys I'd thought we'd share
Have sunk beneath a flood of care,
And I can't declare the day I made that choice.

In the looking-glass I see
A man I never thought I'd be...
And I wonder who'll deliver me from me?
Who'll deliver me from me?

In this One-Star Bethlehem Hotel
I see my shabby self rather too well...
And I wonder who'll deliver me from me?
Who'll deliver me from me?


Mary's Song

An angel came to me
And said, "Do not be afraid.
You've found favor with the Lord
The God of Israel.
You'll bring forth a child, the Son of God,
Who will reign over all forever."

How can this be?
A girl like me?
The mother of a king?

The angel said again,
"You've found favor with the Lord
And his Spirit will come over you.
And all the world will sing
Of this holy one you bring, the Song of God,
Who will reign over all forever."

And can it be?
A girl like me?
Blessed by a King?

And the child you see this day
The Prince of Peace within the hay
Someday will die to make a way
For us to live with him forever.

He has come to break my heart.
This child has come to break my heart.
Accept the gift he offers you,
He'll break your heart and make it new.
And you'll live with him forever.