A barren land and a barren wife Made Abraham laugh at his wandering life A cruel joke it seemed then to call him the father of nations A heavenly prank, a celesta, all joke 'Cause gray hair and babies leave no room for hope But hoping was something this hopeless old man learned to d They called him laughter, for he came after The Father had made an impossible promise come true The birth of a baby to a hopeless old lady So they called him laughter, 'cause no other name would do A cry in the darkness and laughter at night An elderly couple sit holding him tight An improbable infant, a punchline, a promise come true They laughed 'til they wept, then they laughed at their tears This miracle baby they'd wanted for years Would make a Messiah who'd give us impossible joy They called him laughter, for he came after The Father had made an impossible promise come true The birth of a baby to a hopeless old lady So they called him laughter, for no other name would do They called him laughter, for he came after The Father had made an impossible promise come true The birth of a baby to a hopeless old lady So they called him laughter, for no other name would do