Intro: D Verse: D a poor orphan girl named Maria A7 Was walking to market one day She stopped for to rest by the roadside D Where a bird with a broken wing lay a few moments passed 'til she saw it A7 For its feathers were covered with sand But soon clean and wrapped it was traveling D In the warmth of Maria's small hand Chorus: G She happily gave her last peso D A7 D On a cage made of rushes and twine G She fed it loose corn from the market D A7 And watched it grow stronger with time Verse: D Now the Christmas Eve service was coming A7 And the church shone with tinsel and light And all of the townsfolk brought presents D To lay by the manger that night There were diamonds and incense and perfumes A7 In packages fit for a king But for one ragged bird in a small cage D Maria had nothing to bring Chorus: G She waited till just before mid-night D A7 D So no one would see her go in G And, crying, she knelt by the manger D A7 For her gift was unworthy of him -key change- Verse: E Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness, B7 "Maria, what brings you to me? If the bird in the cage is your offering, E Open the door, let me see." Though she trembled, she did as he asked her B7 And out of the cage the bird flew Soaring up into the rafters E On a wing that had healed good as new. Chorus: A Just then the midnight bells rang out E B7 E And the little bird started to sing A a song that no words could recapture E B7 Whose beauty was fit for a king Verse: E Now Maria felt blessed just to listen B7 To that cascade of notes sweet and long As her offering was lifted to heaven E By the very first nightingale's song Outro: | A | E B7 | E | | A | E | B7 | | E | E | B7 | B7 | E -Fade-
