Identify Folksy Christmas Song

Not really much of a Christmas music fan, but while on long drive with wife over the holidays, was flipping through the dial, and came upon a folksy (guitar, tamborine, bells…) song which had a catchy low-key beat, singer with a vaguely John Prine rasp to his voice.

Can’t remmber much of the lyrics now, but they went something like:

“Jesus went to Egypt, (yeah man?)”

and the chorus always ended with something like “But that train’s already gone.”

Lots of verses with the same rhythm as above: “Blank did Blank, yeah, yeah”

Google did not respond well to my few snatches of lyrics.

Anybody?

Sir Rhosis

I’m pretty sure the song is “Mary Had a Baby”. The chorus is:

Jesus went to Egypt (My Lord)
Jesus went to Egypt (Oh My Lord)
Jesus went to Egypt (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone

As for what specific cover you heard, I’m not sure. The most popular one I know is by Bruce Cockburn. You can listen to a snip of it here and see if it matches:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000028TK

Indeed, it was Cockburn’s version I heard. Thanks so much, Liz. Owe you one. Cockburn’ll owe you a sale.

Sir Rhosis