A twentieth-century American carol written by Robert MacGimsey in the style of an African-American spiritual. According to William Simon, editor of the Reader’s Digest Merry Christmas Songbook, MacGimsey wrote this carol after walking past crowded speakeasies in New York City on Christmas Eve, 1932.
Sweet little Jesus Boy They made You be born in a manger. Sweet little Holy child, Didn’t know who You was. Didn’t know You’d come to save us Lord To take our sins away. Our eyes was blind, We couldn’t see We didn’t know who You was.
Long time ago You was born, Born in a manger low. Sweet little Jesus Boy The world treat You mean, Lord Treat me mean too But please, Sir, forgive us Lord We didn’t know ’twas You.
Sweet little Jesus Boy Born long time ago. Sweet little Holy child, And we didn’t know who You was.