A Stick, A Carrot & String

{tuning: Standard (EADGBE)}
[E]the horse's hay beneath his head
our [A]Lord was born to a manger bed
that a[F#m]ll whose wells run dry
could d[A]rink [F#m]of hi[E]s supply

to k[E]eep him warm, the sheep drew near
so g[A]rateful for His coming here
come w[F#m]ith news of grace
come t[A]o t[F#m]ake m[E]y place
the d[E]onkey whispered in his ear
"chil[A]d, in 30-some-odd years
you'll[F#m] ride someone who looks like me
unt[A]ri[F#m]umph[E]antly"

the c[E]ardinals warbled a joyful song
he'll [A]make right what man made wrong
bring[F#m]ing low the hills
that the val[A]le[F#m]ys m[E]ight be filled

then "ch[E]ild", asked the birds
"well, a[A]ren't they lovely words we sing?"
the t[F#m]iny baby lay there
without [A]sa[F#m]ying [E]anything

at [E]a distance stood a mangy goat
with [A]the crooked teeth and a matted coat
wea[F#m]ry eyes and worn
chipped [A]and [F#m]twiste[E]d horns

thin[E]king "maybe I'll make friends someday
with th[A]e cows and the hens in the rambouillet
but fo[F#m]r now, I'll keep away
I've got n[A]othi[F#m]ng sm[E]art to say"

there'[E]s a sign on the barn in the cabbage town
"when[A] the rain picks up and the sun goes down
sinner[F#m]s, come inside
with no mon[A]ey, [F#m]come a[E]nd buy

[E]no clever talk, nor a gift to bring
requir[A]es our lowly, lovely king
come [F#m]you, empty handed,
you don't [A]nee[F#m]d an[E]ything"

[the solo is tremolo picking
listen to the song to figure out the pattern of how long
to pick each note}

{sot}e---------------11-------------------------|
B--14-16--17-16---16-14--------------------|
G------------------------------------------|
D------------------------------------------|
A------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------|{eot}

[E]and the night was cool and clear as glass
with t[A]he sneaking snake in the garden grass
deep [F#m]cried out to deep
the disci[A]pl[F#m]es fa[E]st asleep

and t[E]he snake perked up when he heard You ask
"if y[A]ou're willing that this cup might pass
we c[F#m]ould find our way back home
maybe start a fa[A]mily [F#m]all [E]our own"

"but d[E]oes not the Father guide the Son?
not m[A]y will, but yours be done.
what e[F#m]lse here to do?
what else [A]for [F#m]me, b[E]ut You?"

and t[E]he snake who'd held the world
a sti[A]ck, a carrot and a string
was [F#m]crushed beneath the foot
of your not[A] wan[F#m]ting [E]anything