Mahalia Jackson - Sweet Little Jesus Boy

[irock]

This traditional Christmas gospel song has been performed by a number of artists, but I've never heard any version that comes close to Mahalia's. She in fact made two recordings over the years (that I know of, anyway; there could be more). The best one can be found on her album 'Mahalia Sings Songs Of Christmas!'.

The lyrics are lovely:

Sweet Little Jesus Boy (traditional)

Sweet little Jesus boy
They made You be born in a manger
Sweet little Holy chil'
We didn't know who You was

Didn't know You'd come to save us Lawd
To take our sins away
Our eyes was blin'
We could not see
We didn't know who You were

Long time ago
You was born
Born in a manger low
Sweet little Jesus boy

De world treat You mean, Lawd
Treat me mean too
But that's how things is down here
We didn't know who You was

You done told us how
We is a-tryin'
Mastah, You done showed us how
Even when You were dyin'

Jus' seem like we can't do right
Look how we treated You
But please, sir, forgive us Lawd
We didn't know it was you

Sweet little Jesus boy
Born a long time ago
Sweet little Holy chil'
We didn't know who You was