The road was dusty, rough, and long, Her labor pains were getting strong, Sons were full as night closed in on them. Young Mary made it to a barn, Leaning hard on Joseph's arm, His coat and straw would make for her a bed. That night in Bethlehem, city of bread, A long-promised bread of life was born. Brightest star and darkest night, treasure at last, The wood and the bread of life, the manger and the cross. A wooden manger was his bed, A bag of grain held his sweet head, A burrowed cave became his burrowed home. Soon burrowed neighbors came to see, This fragile babe, eternity, Lying there in Mary's arms awake. And did the carpenter feel the rough wood? Was there in Mary's heart some pain? Brightest star and darkest night, treasure at last, The wood and the bread of life, the manger and the cross. A common place, a baby's face, where all heaven and earth Dance in the light, all the hopes and fears Of all the years are met in you, tonight, tonight. Tender hand and rugged wood, deepest hunger's holy food, The breath of God comes right to where we are. Yes, that night in Bethlehem, city of bread, Long promised bread of life was born. Brightest glory, darkest night, treasure at last, The wood and the holy seed, the wood and the holy seed, The manger and the cross.