Mary Had A Baby

Traditional Christmas Song Lyrics

Mary had a baby, yes, Lord
Mary had a baby, yes, my Lord
Mary had a baby, yes, Lord
The people keep a-comin’ and the train done gone

What did she name Him? Yes, Lord
What did she name Him? Yes, my Lord
What did she name Him? Yes, Lord
The people keep a-comin’ and the train done gone

She named Him Jesus, yes, Lord
She named Him Jesus, yes, my Lord
She named Him Jesus, yes, Lord
The people keep a-comin’ and the train done gone

Where was He born? Yes, Lord
Where was He born? Yes, my Lord
Where was He born? Yes, Lord
Born in a manger, yes, my Lord
The people keep a-comin’ and the train done gone

What did He do? Yes, Lord
What did He do? Yes, my Lord
What did He do? Yes, Lord
He died to save us, yes, my Lord
The people keep a-comin’ and the train done gone.

About This Christmas Song

Mary Had a Baby is a warm and spirited African American spiritual that has been sung and shared for well over a century. Though its origins are not precisely known, many musicologists trace the song to the early to mid-19th century, possibly originating on South Carolina’s St. Helena Island, a key entry point in the slave trade.

The carol follows a classic call-and-response structure, where a soloist confidently sings a line - such as “Mary had a baby, yes, Lord” - that is then answered by the group. Refrains like “The people keep a‑comin’ and the train done gone” evoke the movement and momentum both in the narrative and the African American spiritual tradition.

Unlike many Nativity-themed songs, Mary Had a Baby focuses less on decoration or introspection and more on celebration: the naming of Jesus, the sacred birth in a manger, sometimes the coming of shepherds (depending on the version being sung) - all in a format designed for community singing.

Over time, this soul-stirring spiritual has been included in hymnals used in both Black and mainstream Christian worship, attesting to its emotional depth and enduring beauty.

Performance Video

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