Tuning: E A D G B E

[Intro] D D D D [Verse 1]

^D It happened one day near December's end Two neighbors called on an old ^Cfriend

And they found his shop so meager and lean

Made gay with thousand ^Abows of green And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine When he suddenly ^Dstopped as he stitched a twine And he said "Old friends, at dawn to^Dday ^D When the cock was crowing the night away

The Lord appeared in a dream to me

^C And said "I'm coming your guest to be."

[Verse 2]

^C So I've been busy with feet astir ^AStrewing my shop with branches of fern The ^Atable is spread and the kettle is shined ^D And over the rafters the holly is twined ^D Now I'll wait for my Lord to ap^Gpear

And listen closely so I will hear

His step as He nears my humble ^Emplace And I'll open the door and ^Glook on His face

[Verse 3]

^A So his friends went home and left Conrad alone For this was the happiest ^Dday he had known

For long since, his family had passed away

^G And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas Day But he knew with the ^EmLord as his Christmas Guest

This Christmas would be the dearest and best

So he ^Alistened with only joy in his heart And with every sound he would rise with a start ^D And look for the Lord to be at his door

Like the vision he had had a few hours before

^D So he ran to the window after hearing a sound But all he could see on the snow covered ^Cground

Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn

And all of his clothes were ^Aragged and worn

[Verse 4]

^A But Conrad was touched and he went to the door ^D And he said, "You know, your feet must be frozen and sore I have some ^Dshoes in my shop for you

And a coat that will keep you warmer too."

So with grateful ^Cheart the man went away But Conrad noticed the time of day And ^Awondered what made the Lord so late

And how much longer he'd have to wait

^D When he heard a knock, he ran to the door But it was only a ^Gstranger once more

A bent old lady with a shawl of black

With a^D bundle of kindling piled on her back She asked for only a place to rest But^A that was reserved for Conrad's Great Guest

[Verse 5]

But her voice seemed to plead^D "Don't send me away Let me rest for awhile on Christmas ^GDay"

So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup

And told her to sit at the table and ^Emsup But after she left he was filled with dismay ^A For he saw that the hours were slipping away And the Lord hadn't come as he said he ^Dwould

Then Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood

^D When out of the stillness he heard a cry 'Please help me and tell me where am I?" ^C So again he opened his friendly door

And stood disappointed as twice before

^A It was only a child who'd wandered away And was lost from her family on Christmas ^DDay

[Verse 6] Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad

But he ^Dknew he should make the little girl glad So he called her in and he wiped her tears And^C quieted all her childish fears

Then he led her back to her home once more

^A But as he entered his own darkened door ^D He knew the Lord was not coming today For the hours of Christmas had ^Gpassed away

[Verse 7]

So he ^Gwent to his room and knelt down to pray And he ^Emsaid "Dear Lord, why did you delay? ^A What kept you from coming to call on me? For I wanted so much ^Dyour face to see.' When soft in the silence ^Ga voice he heard

"Lift up your head for I kept my word

^Em Three times my shadow crossed your floor And three times I came ^Ato your lonely door

I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet

^D And I was the woman you gave something to eat I was the child on the homeless ^Dstreet

Three times I knocked, and three times I came in

^C And each time I found the warmth of a friend ^A Of all the gifts, love is the best And I was ^Dhonored to be your Christmas Guest

Reba McEntire - The christmas guest