The shearers were shearing at Bethlehem,
The men were all at the shed,
When a swagman asked for shelter of them,
For his wife on an ass he led
The rep looked him over, his head on one side,
Like an emu out in the scrub,
When the stranger said his wife was denied
Accommodation at the pu

The girl was pregnant Ah, what was the use,
Us blokes we could read the signs:
They'd kicked her out when she couldn't produce
Respectable marriage lines
Well, that was all right Why, every tramp,
White, or yellow, or black,
Was welcome to meals and a place to camp
In the shearing sheds outback

The presser he dragged out a butt of wool
To the cosiest nook in the shed;
"Here, grab 'youseselves' a pack a piece
"And make 'youseselves' a bed"
That night we awoke to a racket and ramp
And wondered what could it be?
It sounded like an Aborigines' camp
The night of corroboree

You've heard the music the Beatles played?
Well, toss in a harp, and a horn,
And you've got the racket those angels made
The night that Christ was born
While the angels raved on about "Peace on Earth"
Us shearers went back to bed
For stranger things than a saviour's birth
Have happened in shearing sheds

There were shepherds, of course, allaround the place
Now these blokes, they don't see much of life,
So they gathered around and they lent a hand
To help out the stranger's wife
Three Afghan camel men came from afar
They were wise, so said the boss,
They had travelled a course 'neath a shining star
Just East of the Southern Cross

They were generous coves, too, I'll be bound
They gave him some toys, and a bell,