I am seeking published sheet music (voice & piano) for a Christmas
song for which I only have the words. I believe the piece is called
"The Ballad Of Bethlehem" and it is a fairly modern carol in a bluesy
style. I can recall the start of the tune and would be able to notate
it if need be. The words are as follows:

I?m going to tell a story you may have heard before.
It all took place so long ago, a thousand years and more.
A village inn in Bethlehem was rather occupied
When Joseph knocked at the wooden door with Mary by his side.

Joseph said, ?Have you a room? Please don?t turn us away,
This town is my ancestral home and here we?ve got to stay
And we?ve tried all the inns in Bethlehem.
You probably can see,
We?re very hungry, extremely cold and Mary?s a mother to be.?

?All the rooms are taken now, You should have come before,
You could always use the stable here just outside the door.
Your wife can have her baby there without the drunken din
Of closing time at half past ten!? said the keeper of the inn.

Meanwhile on a hillside, while the whole town lay asleep,
An angel came before some shepherds watching o?er their sheep.
?Don?t you be afraid,? he said, ?I?ve good news for all men.
The Saviour, yes the Messiah, the Lord is born in Bethlehem!?

The shepherds left for Bethlehem on that starry Christmas night.
They walked up to the stable door glowing in moonlight.
They entered very quietly and then began to sing.
?The Messiah has come, The Child is born! Hallelujah, praise the King!?
?Oh, praise the King!?
?Oh, praise the King!?

I have located music for two pieces bearing the name "Ballad Of
Bethlehem", one composed by Randall Sensmeier, the other contained in
a publication entitled "Emmanuel Carols", compiled by Edwin T.
Shepherd. However, neither of these pieces is the one I seek.

I suspect that the piece has not been published separately, but is
likely to be part of a collection.

I require sufficient information on this piece to enable me to locate
a published copy, i.e. title of publication and publisher at the very
least.

Do you know if this song is of English/Scottish/Irish origin? The
reference to "closing time at half past ten" and the spelling of
"Saviour" (vs. American "Savior") suggest the writer of the lyrics at
least might not be American. Also, either you or someone on a parallel
search posted a similar question on the TES site in the UK recently.
It might give the researchers a better idea of where to start if they
have that information, and perhaps a general location/time as to
where/when you sang this in school.