THREE LITTLE PENNIES
(Kim Tribble / Tim Bays)


Doug Stone - 1992





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

Three little pennies were all that I had
One that I'd found and 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 in the manger and 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

Three little pennies were all that he had
One that he found and two from his Dad
Three little pennies, not much of a gift
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 disappointed 'cause I had been good
But times had been bad, so I understood

And Daddy said
"Three little pennies were all that you had
You gave them freely, so I gave 'em back
Three little pennies, not much of a gift
Your bike is outside 'cause you've learned how to give"






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - November 2012)