Lyrics:

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