Church Hymnary (4th ed.) ‎#315

315. Once in royal David's city

1 Once in royal David's city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her Baby
in a manger for his bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

2 He came down to earth from heaven
who is God and Lord of all,
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall.
With the poor and meek and lowly
lived on earth our Saviour holy.

3 And our eyes at last shall see him,
through his own redeeming love;
for that Child so dear and helpless
is our Lord in heaven above;
and he leads his children on
to the place where he is gone.

4 Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing by,
we shall see him; but in heaven,
set at God's right hand on high,
where his children gather round,
bright like stars, with glory crowned.

Text Information

• First Line: Once in royal David's city
• Author: Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895) (alt.)
• Meter: 87 87 77
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2005
• Scripture:
  1 John 3:2
  ;
  1 Peter 3:22
  ;
  2 Corinthians 8:9
  ;
  Acts 7:55-56
  ;
  Acts 10:36
  ;
  John 1:1
  ;
  John 1:14
  ;
  John 7:42
  ;
  Luke 2:1-20
• Topic: Life in Christ: Christ Incarnate - Christmas and Epiphany

Tune Information

• Name: IRBY
• Composer: Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876)
• Meter: 87 87 77
• Key: F Major
• Source: harmony as in Appendix to Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1868