A small and poor girl, Maria, was on her way to the market in the city. She stopped to rest for a while along the road where a little bird was sitting. She picked it up and then she saw that there was blood and some sand on her wing. She swept it clean and then it was in Maria's palm, her hand. She bought for her last few cents a basket of reeds and wood. Gave it food and then also some water and so the bird became familiar. It got dark, it was almost Christmas Eve. In the church the light was burning everywhere. And the people, they brought gifts to the crib, the child in the stable. Gold and silver and also diamonds, around the crib were roses scattered. And Maria was waiting outside with her heart full of mercy. That's why they waited until it was twelve o'clock, so that no one saw her poverty. And kneeling she said, dear king, it is not enough what I brought you. But then a voice spoke in the dark, Maria, what brings you to me? If the bird in the cage is your gift, open the door and let it free. Very carefully she did what was said and then the bird flew out. He flew a few rounds up and happily took off his wings. And the bells began to ring and the bird fell in love with his voice. In a song that is too beautiful for words and whose beauty was meant for him. And Maria was listening very quietly to those sounds so pure and long. Her gift flew up to heaven, a beautiful nightingale sang. La, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la That little poor girl Maria Gave more than a rich man a billion Gave more than all the gold in the world Because Maria, she gave with her heart *