Disclaimer: The original "One's on the Way" is, of course, by Loretta Lynn; the source material for this version was provided by St. Luke the Evangelist, with some supplementation by María de Ágreda. (Yes, I did just mention María de Ágreda and Loretta Lynn in the same sentence – and yes, I am posting an Advent song just in time for Lent. Aren't you glad to know me?)
They say the noble Romans have a special god for drains;
And Mithras rules in Persia – so the Persian fable feigns;
And the scarab feasts on dunghills while the folk of Egypt pray –
But here in Judea, as in the beginnin',
The true God is tented, and my womb is the linen.
One is His glory and one His dominion – and
One's on the way!
I'm glad Augustus Caesar's brought about a worldwide peace –
The eagle's spread her pinions all the way from Gaul to Greece;
From Iberia clear to Syria, Roman power's on display –
But here in Judea, my soul's magnifyin'
The One who is mighty and whose mercy's undyin',
One's strength dismissin' and one's need supplyin' – for
One's on the way!
Now seven months on, it's gettin' on to wintertime; yikes, that wind is cold…
"Hello, Joseph … What's that you say? … The Emperor's called the world to be enrolled? … The middle of Tevet? … Well, don't fret yourself. God's ordained all the twists of fortune that befall us; we can trust that He'll have our needs met … Yes, dear, an ass-colt would be wonderful … All right … Shalom …"
(The poor dear…)
The holy prophet Micah surely knows whereof he speaks;
The rabbis say we're near the end of Daniel's toll of weeks;
And the world may doubt the Lord is faithful, but my sources say
That here in Judea, the time is appointed
When Man's Son brings healing to the world man's disjointed;
The One long awaited as the One Lord's Anointed – that
One's on the way!
("Aw, Gee, I hope there's a decent inn in Bethlehem…")