LONG-AGO HAPPEN, COUNTRY FAR-AWAY,
WISE MEN THEY-rt SAW PROOF, DECIDE TRAVEL ACROSS DESERT.
REALLY-WANT SING PRAISE. TRAVEL MANY MILE,
BRING THINGS PRECIOUS. FOLLOW STAR SHOW WAY.

THEY-rt CHASE STAR NEW, MOVE WEST+.
ACROSS MOUNTAIN FAR-AWAY. HAPPEN STAR STAY-in-sky,
THEY-rt JAW-DROP, HARD BELIEVE. THEY-rt TRAVEL MANY M-I-L-E.
MIRACLE THEY-rt CURIOUS SEE, ONLY THIS-lf CHILD.

ONLY THIS-lf CHILD CAN WASH-tears TEARS WIPE-AWAY-tears,
OR GUIDE WORLD EXHAUSTED SEE THE-lf LIGHT.
ONLY THIS-lf CHILD CAN HEAL JOURNEY LONG.
MEAN AGAIN BECOME CHILDREN TEMPORARY CAN.

NOW WORLD ALL-AROUND-world, IN EVERY LITTLE TOWN,
EVERYDAY WE HEAR THAT PRECIOUS SOUND.
EVERY MOTHER KIND, AND EVERY FATHER PROUD,
LOOK-AT-baby-in-arms AWED THEY-ctr HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE.

Notes: DESERT - DRY THEREABOUTS. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Desert.

REALLY-WANT - WANT but shaken back and forth to show intensity.

PRECIOUS - (2h)[5:], hold FTs by the sides of the chin and move down while maintaining contact and closing to (2h)[S].

THEY - Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

MIRACLE - GREAT WORK. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Miracle.

WASH-tears - Palm sides of (2h)[A], wash under eyes.

TEARS - CRY.

WIPE-AWAY-tears - FTs of (2h)[B] curl as they wipe the tears > their respective sides.

EXHAUSTED - TIRED + [V], PO up, FO > NDS, is drawn with effort across the palm of [B], PO up, FO away.

LIGHT - (2h)[O^], POs away, FOs up, open to (2h)[5], while separating. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Light - 1.

ALL-AROUND-world - (2h)[A], POs down, FOs away, touch thumbs then open to (2h)[5:] while the outline travelling from the top of a sphere (the earth) to the bottom.

PRECIOUS - (2h)[5:], hold FTs by the sides of the chin and move down while maintaining contact and closing to (2h)[S].

SOUND - Touch ear with index finger then (2h)[S], PO down, FO away, move antisymmetrically from side to side while mouthing "pow". For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - thunder.

KIND - (2h)[B^], POs ><, FOs away, NDH is held close to heart and DH circles around it.

LOOK-AT-baby-in-arms - Hold NDH as in BABY and look at baby with DH [V].

AWED - (2h)[S], POs ><, FOs up are held at eyes with awed facial expression and the hands open and then close.

Lyrics:

Once upon a time in a far off land
Wise men saw a sign and set out aross the sand
Songs of praise to sing, they travelled day and night
Precious gifts to bring, guided by the light

They chased a brand new star, ever towards the west
Across the mountains far, but when it came to rest
They scarce believed their eyes, they'd come so many miles
And the miracle they prized was nothing but a child

Nothing but a child could wash these tears away
Or guide a weary world into the light of day
And nothing but a child could help erase these miles
So once again we all can be children for awhile

Now all around the world, in every iittle town
Everyday is heard a precious little sound
And every mother kind and every father proud
Looks down in awe to find another chance allowed

To hear a musical setting of these lyrics (without words), go to Christmas Music - Nothing But A Child.