A poor orphan girl named Maria

Was walking the market one day

She stopped for to rest by the road side

Where a bird with a broken wing laid

A few moments passed till she saw it

For it's feathers were covered with sand

And soon clean and rapped it was traveling

In the warmth of Maria's small hand

She happily gave her last paso

Of a cage made of freshes and twine

She fed it loose corn from the market

Watched it grow stronger with time

Now the gift giving service was coming

And the chruch arm with tinsel and light

An' all of the town folk brought presents

To lay by the manger that night

There were diamonds, incents and perfumes

And packages fit for a king

But for one raged bird in his small cage

Maria had nothing to bring

She waited till just before midnight

So no one would see her go in

And crying she knelt be the manger

For her gift was unworthy of him

Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness

Maria what brings you to me

If the bird in the cage is your offering

Open the door let me see

So she trembled she did as he asked her

An' out of the cage the bird flew

Soaring up into the rafters

On a wing that would feel good just new

An' just as the midnight bells rang out

And the little bird started to sing

A song that no words could recapture

For its beauty was fit for a king

Now Maria felt blessed just to listen

To the cascade a note sweet and long

As her offering was lifted to heaven

By the very first night in Gales song