Muthu Muthu Pinikata Lyrics by Unknown Artist

In the hour when pearl-drops of dew fall to the ground,
in the way the trees and leaves sway just as they please,
in the hour the star-flowers twinkle, dimming and glowing, in the sky,
the Son of God is born, a blessed festival

In the Christmas season, let us light up the world,
let us spread peace, along with it, within our hearts,
let us wash away the filth of the mind today,
let us sing songs to soothe the baby Jesus
Pearl-drops of dew

My white Jesus, born in Bethlehem,
I have come to look upon you, Jesus,
one day, wash away my sins, Jesus,
will you come to Sri Lanka, my golden Jesus?
Pearl-drops of dew

This is a gentle Christmas carol that begins in the quiet beauty of nature and moves toward a very personal longing. Its opening lines set the Nativity within a hushed, dew-laden night, in the hour when pearl-drops of dew fall to the ground, while the trees and leaves sway just as they please and the star-flowers twinkle in the sky. Into that peaceful world the Son of God is born, a blessed festival.

The middle verse turns the celebration into a call to make Christmas mean something. In the Christmas season, let us light up the world, let us spread peace within our hearts, and, most tellingly, let us wash away the filth of the mind today. The birth of Jesus is an invitation to inner cleansing and outward peace, so that the point becomes to sing songs to soothe the baby Jesus with a clean and joyful heart.

The final verse is intimate and touching. The singer speaks straight to the child, my white Jesus born in Bethlehem, I have come to look upon you, and makes two heartfelt requests, one day wash away my sins, and a beautifully local, childlike wish, will you come to Sri Lanka, my golden Jesus? What the listener is left with is a tender, homegrown Christmas prayer, one that sees the newborn Saviour amid the dew and stars, longs to be cleansed by him, and, with disarming affection, invites him to come to its own island home.