It came to pass back in those days that Caesar, he decreed

A census would be taken of the Roman world, you see

So everyone packed up and headed back to their home towns

And this couple up from Galilee to Bethlehem was bound


So it came to pass this man named Joe was with his fiance

Back when her pregnancy began to show he planned to go away

But it came to pass that in a dream an angel of the Lord

Said, "Joseph, don't you be afraid to marry Mary for

The little baby in her womb it is the Holy Spirit's work

You may have read the prophet said a virgin would give birth


So it came to pass that Joseph was the noblest of men

With a woman on a donkey on their way to Bethlehem

And I wonder whether either was aware enough that day

To know the child would bring a Kingdom 

and the old would come to pass away


Yes, it came to pass that Joseph was the noblest of men

With a woman on a donkey on their way to Bethlehem