Christmas in the Scrub – lyrics

Christmas in the Scrub

Leigh Newton © 1983

           C                               F
1. At Christmas time the birds all sing
C                       D7         G
The rabbits jump, the lizards crawl
C                            F
At Christmas time the outback rings
C               G          C
All for the birth of God

Chorus
G
For the birth of God, the wallabies hop
C
For the birth of God, the cockatoos squawk
G
For the birth of God, the platypus swims
C
For the birth of God, the kookaburra laughs
F
For the birth of God was such exciting news
C        G           Am
They’d never heard before
C           G/B      Am
They came from all the land
F       G        C
To see this baby in the straw.

                F                            C
2. And if you were there you would have heard
D7                   G
The wise old kangaroo
“Oh, I’ve starved in droughts, I’ve swum the floods,
“I’ve hopped around, both up and down,
“Through hills and plains I’ve never seen
“Such a baby in the straw.”

3. And if you were there you would have heard
The wise little bandicoot.
“Oh, I’ve snuffled and fossicked the midnight scrub
“I’ve been in logs and fogs and bogs,
“Well bless my days, I’ve never heard
“Of a baby in the straw.”

4. And if you were there you would have heard
The wise old noisy crow.
“Oh, I’ve flown this land, seen many a baby
“Born in burrows, trees and furrows,
“Yet this one outshines them all,
“This baby in the straw.”