Three Lanterns in the Snow (Remastered) by MikesMusic2025

[INTRO – gentle guitar picking, very soft Jewish harp pulse, harmonica plays a simple, wistful four-note motif then fades]

[VERSE 1 – VOICE 1 SOLO]
Down in the hollow where the cold wind blows,
Three girls walked with their lanterns low,
Christmas Eve and the sky hung grey,
But the church bell called from the far-on way.

Mary had a ribbon and her boots worn thin,
Martha had a basket with a candle in,
Ellen held a hymn book, pages torn,
And the three of them walked through the winter morn.

[REFRAIN – ALL THREE, CLOSE HARMONY, GUITAR + JEWISH HARP]
Sing “peace on earth” in the lantern glow,
Three small lights in a world of snow,
If you listen close when the north winds blow,
You can hear their song from long ago.

[SHORT INSTRUMENTAL – HARMONICA answers the refrain melody, soft Jewish harp twang between phrases]

[VERSE 2 – VOICE 2 LEADS, VOICE 1 LOW HARMONY ON LAST LINES]
By old Mr. Taylor’s broken gate,
They stopped when they saw he’d no fire lit late,
Widow for a year and he’d drawn the blind,
“Christmas is for others, not my kind.”

Mary knocked gently, Martha stepped in,
Ellen sang a carol soft and thin,
They lit his candle and they shared his bread,
“Come walk with us to the church instead.”

[REFRAIN – ALL THREE, A LITTLE STRONGER]
Sing “peace on earth” in the lantern glow,
Four small lights in a world of snow,
If you listen close when the north winds blow,
You can hear their song from long ago.

[SHORT INSTRUMENTAL – HARMONICA + JEWISH HARP, GUITAR KEEPS SIMPLE PATTERN]

[VERSE 3 – VOICE 3 LEADS, OTHERS HUMMING UNDER LAST LINES]
Past the cottage where the young boy lay,
Too sick for the games in the lane that day,
His mother at the window, eyes worn thin,
Watching other children running in.

So Ellen held her lantern high,
Martha raised her voice to the winter sky,
Mary at the glass sang low and clear,
“Christ is born, and love is here.”

The boy’s eyes brightened in the candle’s gleam,
For a moment he forgot his fever-dream,
He pressed his hand to the frosted pane,
And he smiled like he’d never smile again.

[REFRAIN – ALL THREE, SOFTER, MORE TENDER]
Sing “peace on earth” in the lantern glow,
Five small lights in a world of snow,
If you listen close when the north winds blow,
You can hear their song from long ago.

[INSTRUMENTAL – HARMONICA TAKES A LONGER VERSE-LENGTH SOLO, GUITAR STEADY, JEWISH HARP PULSING GENTLY]

[VERSE 4 – VOICE 1 LEADS, OTHERS JOIN ON LAST 2 LINES]
Years rolled on like the river’s run,
Lanterns rusted, girls were gone,
Screens now shine where the candles were,
And the snow falls down on the satellite blur.

Kids walk fast with their faces lit,
By a world in their hands where their hearts don’t sit,
But an old man hums as they hurry past,
A Christmas tune from the long-gone last.

[VERSE 5 – ALL THREE SHARE LINES, ONE EACH THEN TOGETHER]
[Voice 1] “Once we walked with a lantern flame…”
[Voice 2] “Sang for strangers, called their name…”
[Voice 3] “Shared our bread and our borrowed light…”
[ALL THREE] “Be our guests again tonight.”

[FINAL REFRAIN – ALL THREE, RICH HARMONY, THEN DROP TO A CAPPELLA LAST LINE]
Sing “peace on earth” in the lantern glow,
Raise one light when the cold winds blow,
Put your bright small screens down low,
And bring back songs from long ago.

[A CAPPELLA TAG – ALL THREE, SOFT]
Bring back songs from long ago.

[OUTRO – GUITAR PICKS FINAL CHORD, JEWISH HARP ONE LAST TWANG, HARMONICA PLAYS THE OPENING FOUR-NOTE MOTIF AND FADES]

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[INTRO – gentle guitar picking, very soft Jewish harp pulse, harmonica plays a simple, wistful four-note motif then fades] [VERSE 1 – VOICE 1 SOLO] Down in the hollow where the cold wind blows, Three girls walked with their lanterns low, Christmas Eve and the sky hung grey, But the church bell called from the far-on way. Mary had a ribbon and her boots worn thin, Martha had a basket with a candle in, Ellen held a hymn book, pages torn, And the three of them walked through the winter morn. [REFRAIN – ALL THREE, CLOSE HARMONY, GUITAR + JEWISH HARP] Sing “peace on earth” in the lantern glow, Three small lights in a world of snow, If you listen close when the north winds blow, You can hear their song from long ago. [SHORT INSTRUMENTAL – HARMONICA answers the refrain melody, soft Jewish harp twang between phrases] [VERSE 2 – VOICE 2 LEADS, VOICE 1 LOW HARMONY ON LAST LINES] By old Mr. Taylor’s broken gate, They stopped when they saw he’d no fire lit late, Widow for a year and he’d drawn the blind, “Christmas is for others, not my kind.” Mary knocked gently, Martha stepped in, Ellen sang a carol soft and thin, They lit his candle and they shared his bread, “Come walk with us to the church instead.” [REFRAIN – ALL THREE, A LITTLE STRONGER] Sing “peace on earth” in the lantern glow, Four small lights in a world of snow, If you listen close when the north winds blow, You can hear their song from long ago. [SHORT INSTRUMENTAL – HARMONICA + JEWISH HARP, GUITAR KEEPS SIMPLE PATTERN] [VERSE 3 – VOICE 3 LEADS, OTHERS HUMMING UNDER LAST LINES] Past the cottage where the young boy lay, Too sick for the games in the lane that day, His mother at the window, eyes worn thin, Watching other children running in. So Ellen held her lantern high, Martha raised her voice to the winter sky, Mary at the glass sang low and clear, “Christ is born, and love is here.” The boy’s eyes brightened in the candle’s gleam, For a moment he forgot his fever-dream, He pressed his hand to the frosted pane, And he smiled like he’d never smile again. [REFRAIN – ALL THREE, SOFTER, MORE TENDER] Sing “peace on earth” in the lantern glow, Five small lights in a world of snow, If you listen close when the north winds blow, You can hear their song from long ago. [INSTRUMENTAL – HARMONICA TAKES A LONGER VERSE-LENGTH SOLO, GUITAR STEADY, JEWISH HARP PULSING GENTLY] [VERSE 4 – VOICE 1 LEADS, OTHERS JOIN ON LAST 2 LINES] Years rolled on like the river’s run, Lanterns rusted, girls were gone, Screens now shine where the candles were, And the snow falls down on the satellite blur. Kids walk fast with their faces lit, By a world in their hands where their hearts don’t sit, But an old man hums as they hurry past, A Christmas tune from the long-gone last. [VERSE 5 – ALL THREE SHARE LINES, ONE EACH THEN TOGETHER] [Voice 1] “Once we walked with a lantern flame…” [Voice 2] “Sang for strangers, called their name…” [Voice 3] “Shared our bread and our borrowed light…” [ALL THREE] “Be our guests again tonight.” [FINAL REFRAIN – ALL THREE, RICH HARMONY, THEN DROP TO A CAPPELLA LAST LINE] Sing “peace on earth” in the lantern glow, Raise one light when the cold winds blow, Put your bright small screens down low, And bring back songs from long ago. [A CAPPELLA TAG – ALL THREE, SOFT] Bring back songs from long ago. [OUTRO – GUITAR PICKS FINAL CHORD, JEWISH HARP ONE LAST TWANG, HARMONICA PLAYS THE OPENING FOUR-NOTE MOTIF AND FADES]

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