A Star Above The Highway

1. Away In A Manager - instrumental

(public domain - JC File/John McFarland/James Murray, 1885-1887; arranged by Ryan Sheeler)

2. Iowa County Christmas - words and music by Ryan Sheeler

VERSE 1

Snow blew in last weekend; it shut down Highway 69

Just in time to hit the road and make it back for Christmas Time

Grandma makes the turkey and we all gather 'round the stove

The fields are white with snow and it's quiet on the road

CHORUS

It's an Iowa Country Christmas - a special time of year

With all the time we spend apart, it's such a joy to come back here

It might seem old-fashioned, but it's the only one for me

(It's) an Iowa Country Christmas with love and family

VERSE 2

Gram and Grandpa are gettin' older...mom and dad, retirin' soon

My brother's got a wife and 4 kids; they're all coming this afternoon

Seems like it's a month of Sundays since we all see each other any more

It's a shame life gets too busy. But it's a gift just to walk through that door.

CHORUS - SOLO - CHORUS - OUT

3. Hark The Herald Angels Sing (public domain - Charles Wesley/Felix Mendelssohn; arr. by Ryan Sheeler)

VERSE 1

Hark the herald angels sing - "Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"

VERSE 2
Christ by highest heav'n adored - Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell; Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"

VERSE 3
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by - Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth - Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing - "Glory to the newborn King!"

4. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - words and music by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

It doesn't show signs of stopping, and I brought some corn for popping;
The lights are turned way down low, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

When we finally say good night, how I'll hate going out in the storm;
But if you really hold me tight, all the way home I'll be warm.

The fire is slowly dying, and, my dear, we're still good-bye-ing,
But as long as you love me so, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

5. Another Story -words and music by Ryan Sheeler

VERSE 1
You know this season that comes right after Fall.
What just happened with all those signs?

You missed 'em after all!

PRE-CHORUS
I know you used to believe And now you're just not sure at all
well maybe this is your moment to make a brand new start

CHORUS
Come with me - it's a brand new journey
Come with me - walk away from all you knew
It's another story - time to turn the first page
It's a new beginning - for a brand new day

VERSE 2
I figured you might be hurting ... something, someone past
so you sit down in this cafe looking for the Christmas that always lasts

PRE-CHORUS - CHORUS - SOLO - CHORUS - END
c.2015 Ryan Sheeler/Highway 30 Music ASCAP - All Rights Reserved

"A Star Above The Highway"

all songs c. Ryan Sheeler/Highway 30 Music ASCAP unless otherwise noted

6. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - instrumental

(public domain - Edmund Sears/Richard Storrs Willis 1849,

arr. by Ryan Sheeler)

7. In The Bleak Midwinter

(public domain; text by Christina Rossetti, 1872 /

music by Gustav Holst, 1906) *new verse by Ryan Sheeler, c. 2015

VERSE 1

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

snow had fallen softly, snow on snow

in the bleak midwinter, oh so long ago.

VERSE 2

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;

heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed

for the Lord Almighty, Jesus Christ.

VERSE 3*

Looking down from heaven, I wonder what He sees?

Is it all the loss and longing, in the hearts of you and me?

We search the whole world over, for long-forgotten bliss

and never find another gift as pure as His

VERSE 4

And so, what can I give him, woeful as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

yet what I can I give him: I will give my heart.

8. Reading: "Gen. Robert E Lee letter to his wife, Christmas 1862"

Music: "A Soldier's Homecoming" by Ryan Sheeler, c.2006
Sarah Beisser Ling-violin, Ryan Sheeler-guitar

9. Lo How E'er A Rose Is Blooming - instrumental

(traditional arr. Ryan Sheeler)

10. Rose of Bethlehem

words and music by Lowell Alexander

VERSE 1

There's a Rose in Bethlehem - with a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin, on this silent holy night
There's a fragrance much like hope that it sends upon the wind
Reaching out to every soul from a lowly manger's crib

CHORUS
Oh, Rose of Bethlehem - How lovely, pure, and sweet
Born to glorify the Father - Born to wear the thorns for me

VERSE 2
There's a Rose in Bethlehem - Colored red like mercy's blood
'Tis the flower of our faith - 'tis the blossom of God's love
Though it's bloom is fresh with youth, Surely what will be He knows
For a tear of morning dew is rolling down the Rose

CHORUS

VERSE 1 - repeat
There's a Rose in Bethlehem with a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin on this silent holy night

CHORUS
Oh, Rose of Bethlehem - How lovely, pure, and sweet
Born to glorify the Father - Born to wear the thorns for me

CHORUS - END

11. O Little Town of Bethlehem -- instrumental

(Public Domain; 1868 - Phillips Brooks/Lewis Redner arr. Ryan Sheeler)

12. A Star Above The Highway -words and music by Ryan Sheeler

VERSE 1

I-80 Westbound lane The months turn like pages to December

Christmas in the headlights shinin' like the present he forgot to remember

Take the on-ramp to another life and come back around

Just in time to be home - What he thought he'd lost, he found

CHORUS

There was a star above the highway; couldn't hide from the light

maybe there's a reason he's driving home tonight

The season's only promise brought the memory to light

(There's a) star above the highway; love comes home tonight

VERSE 2

Did he fall asleep at the wheel and drive all that way?

The endless highways sure make for a lonely holiday

The is the only job he ever knew, out on the road somewhere

though he's payin' bills for the family when he'd rather be at home

BRIDGE

His Faith never did have wheels

just a book and a few half-hearted prayers

Now it's all he needs to make it back there.

SOLO - CHORUS - TAG - END

13. We Are Waiting - words and music by Ryan Sheeler and Todd Teske

VERSE 1

Thank you for the promise You made it worth the wait.

You brought us our salvation and you fixed our broken state.

And when we turned our backs on you, you didn't let us go

Instead you chose a special star-lit night to say, "I love you so."

CHORUS

We are waiting by the door, for the promise we've been longing for.

We are waiting on you Lord; We will come and worship,

let your kingdom live in us forever more.

VERSE 2

To thousand years seem long ago; they're just a breath for you.

It sometimes feels like years are slowly years wiping out the truth.

Still, the Babe was born that night a gift wrapped in a choice.

Rise up like that holy angel choir in one united voice

CHORUS

BRIDGE

We are waiting - by the door (repeat 2X)

We are waiting - we're waiting, we're waiting on You, Lord

CHORUS - END

14. Silent Night (Instrumental)

(Public Domain; 1818 - Franz Gruber, Joseph Mohr, arr. by Ryan Sheeler)