Rae Madiyam Yame Lyrics by Chandralekha PereraRookantha Gunathilaka

In the middle watch of the night,
in a shower of starlight,
through the window we saw the cattle-shed

What is this wonder,
who is that within?
quickly, quickly, we came to the cattle-shed

A divine son has been born,
and that son we saw

Why is he laid like this,
wrapped up in the cold?
let us go over to our side,
Mary, Holy Mother

“It is not good here,”
said Joseph,
gazing at the divine son
with love

In the middle watch of the night…

From miles and miles away
even kings came,
and beside this son that day
they fell upon their knees

Always, in this world,
on your birthday,
the day shines and flutters,
the heart brimming with joy

In the middle watch of the night…

This is a Sinhala Christmas carol retelling the Nativity, sung by Rookantha Goonatillake and Chandralekha Perera. It opens on the holy night itself: in the middle watch of the night, under a shower of starlight, the singers glimpse a cattle-shed through a window and marvel at it, what is this wonder, who is inside? Drawn on, they hurry to the stable.

There they find the heart of the story: a divine son, dewputha, has been born, and they see the child. The scene fills with tender, human detail, Mary the Holy Mother and Joseph beside the manger, troubled that the newborn lies wrapped against the cold in so poor a place, it is not good here, Joseph says, gazing lovingly at the child. It is the familiar crèche, felt with real warmth.

The last verse widens to the whole world’s homage. From miles away even kings came, the Magi, and fell on their knees beside the child that day. And it closes on the ongoing joy of the feast: always, on your birthday, the song says to the Christ-child, the day shines and the heart brims with gladness. Sung by two beloved Sinhala voices, it is a gentle, reverent Christmas song that retells the birth of Jesus as a night of wonder, tenderness and worldwide joy.