If I Had Been in Bethlehem
About the Song
This song was written for my oldest daughter, Jennifer. It occurred to me, one evening shortly before Christmas, that if we had lived anywhere near Bethlehem, this intrepid young 7-year-old really would have followed the shepherds or the wise men, and she probably wouldn’t have asked permission, or told me where she was going.
The version marked SATB 2 has the easier choir parts of the two choral arrangements, but a more difficult accompaniment.
Church Music Contest: Children’s Song Division – 1st place 1988
Appeared in The Friend magazine, December 1989
Sheet Music Downloads
PDF:
(Also included in the “My Heart Sings”elementary piano book.)
Personal Composer:
Transpose/resize .pc files using the Personal Composer Demo. (Help)
Spotify, Soundcloud (inc. free downloads)
Click the 
to download the free track for personal use.
Recording featuring vocals by Allyse Smith Taylor:
Accompaniment track:
Apple Music, Amazon
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YouTube
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Lyrics
If I had been in Bethlehem the night of Jesus’ birth
And heard afar the angels’ joyful song of peace on earth
If I had seen the shepherds come to seek the baby fair
I think I would have followed them, and knelt beside them there
If I had lived in eastern lands and watched with eager eyes
If I had seen His star appear and blaze among the skies
If I had seen the wise men go to seek the newborn King
I think I would have followed them, my finest gifts to bring
I did not live in Bethlehem that Christmas night of old
Or travel with the wise men there, to bring Him gifts of gold
But I can give a greater gift than any earthly gem
For all my heart and all my love will be my gift to Him.
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12 Comments
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If you weren’t there in Bethlehem on that Christmas Day,
You can still believe that it happened and changed our fate.
For this was prophesied of the old that He is the coming King,
The Lord, King of our all. To us, He is everything.
It’s such a beautiful song that I shed my tears when I was listening to it.
We have some young children who want to sing this in a program.
Is there a downloadable accompaniment of the shorter 2.30 minutes simplified version? The available accompaniment is the 4 minute version.
Love this as duet SA
I love your music so much. It touches me deeply and I am grateful for your kindness to share with all of us. Thank you.
my daughter wants to learn to play this song in piano, this is too complicated for her, how can she get an easier version just for piano
Do you happen to have the sound track of the piano only? My son is trying to learn how to play this and it gets a little hard with the violin in there.
Thanks.
I found your song while looking for a different one…I love it…
The song I was looking for is “I’d like to go to Bethlehem”(to see the King)
Do you by chance know the words???
Thanks
I have looked and looked and cannot find an mp3 download of “If I Had been in Bethlehem.” Does anyone know where I can purchase/download an mp3 of this song?
I also love this song, he music and lyrics. I taught this to our Primary and they sang it in Sacrament last year for Christmas. Everyone of the children loved it and the congregation also loved to hear them sing it. Yes, I agree, Thank you so much Sally DeFord for your beautiful music………..Lyn Ballinger, San Antonio, Tx. 3rd ward. PS my friend Sister Amy Lauritzen in our ward knew you in college………
Thank you for sharing your beautiful music! We may try this for a few of our girls at church to learn!
This song is so beautiful. I am new at teaching Primary and would like to teach the children this song for the Christmas program and so they can see how beautiful it is. A friend told me about your song and how much she enjoyed teaching this in Primary when she had this calling. I have really enjoyed learning and teaching the son If The Savior Stood Beside Me. I am a mental health therapist and have shared some of the words to your song. I am not a singer, but love music and the affect it has on us especially with building our testimonies. Thank you for sharing your talent with all the world. My husband and two sons were all gifted with singing. I can and do appreciate beautiful music. Thank you again, Lyn Ballinger