Three Little Pennies

there was an old, blind man
who stood on the corner down town

he was holding a cup
filled up with nothing
from the christmas shopping crowd
and though I barely came up to the top of his cane
I reached up and gave him
every cent to my name.

(chorus):
three little pennies.
were all that I had
one that i'd found
two from my dad
three little pennies not much of a gift
but Dad said "that's plenty, if it's all you can give."

that evening my dad told a wonderful story to me
about a child and the manger.
the wise men who came bearing gifts on the first christmas eve.
there was a part i'm sure he made up
about a stable boy who couldn't give much.

(chorus)
three little pennies.
were all that he had
one that he'd found
two from his dad
three little pennies not much of a gift
but Dad said "that's plenty if it's all you can give."

next morning was christmas
and I had prayed hard for a bike
but all that I found was the tiniest box
with three shiny pennies inside

and I was so disapointed because I had been good
but times had been bad so I understood.
and daddy said:

"three little pennies.
were all that you had
but you gave them freely
so I gave them back
three little pennies not much of a gift
you'r bike is outside because you've learned how to give"