Lyrics:

[Original recording from the Chieftain's album 'The Bells Of Dublin'] The streets are filled with laughter and light And the music of the season And the merchants' windows are all bright With the faces of the children And the families hurrying to their homes As the sky darkens and freezes Will be gathering around the hearths and tables Giving thanks for all God's graces And the birth of the rebel Jesus They call him by the 'Prince of Peace' And they call him by 'The Saviour' And they pray to him upon the sea And in every bold endeavor As they fill his churches with their pride and gold And their faith in him increases But they've turned the nature that I worshipped in From a temple to a robber's den In the words of the rebel Jesus We guard our world with locks and guns And we guard our fine possessions And once a year when Christmas comes We give to our relations And perhaps we give a little to the poor If the generosity should seize us But if any one of us should interfere In the business of why there are poor They get the same as the rebel Jesus But pardon me if I have seemed To take the tone of judgement For I've no wish to come between This day and your enjoyment In this life of hardship and of earthly toil We have need for anything that frees us So I bid you pleasure and I bid you cheer From a heathen and a pagan On the side of the rebel Jesus.