Aselin Debison The Gift-driftwood Lyrics

The Gift-driftwood Lyrics

A poor orphan girl named Maria 

Was walking to market one day

She stopped for to rest by the roadside

Where a bird with a broken wing lay

A few moments passed till she saw it

For its feathers were covered with sand

And soon cleaned and wrapped it was traveling

In the warmth of Maria's small hand



She happily gave her last peso

On a cage made of rushes and twine

She fed it loose corn from the market

And watched it grow stronger with time



Now the gift-giving service was coming 

And the church shone with tinsel and light

And all of the townfolk brought presents

To lay by the manger that night



There where diamonds, incense and perfume

And packages fit for a king

But for one ragged bird in a 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 by 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

And out of the cage the bird flew

Soaring up into the rafters

On a wing that had healed good as new



Just then 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 that cascade of notes sweet and long

As her offering was lifted to heaven

By the very first nightingale's song



(Stephanie Davis) © 1990 EMI Blackwood Music Inc. and Beartooth Music. All
Rights Controlled and administered by EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)



Guitar and accordion: Gordie Sampson

Violin: Bruce Dukov

Cello: Larry Corbett

Oboe and flute: Jon Clarke

Violin, cello, oboe and flute arranged and 

conducted by David Campbell





ORCHESTRA

Leader: David Campbell

Orchestra Contractor: Suzie Katayama

Violin: Bruce Dukov (concertmaster), Darius Campo, Susan Chatman, Mario De
Leon, Berj Garabedian, Peter Kent, Rachel Purkin, Michelle Richards, Mark
Robertson

Viola: Evan Wilson, Kazi Pitelka, Denyse Buffum, Matt Funes

Cello: Larry Corbett, Dan Smith

Bass: David Stone

Woodwinds: Jon Clarke