Community of Christ Sings ‎#429

429. 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 mean, and lowly,
lived on earth our Savior holy.

3 For he is our childhood's pattern;
day by day like us he grew;
he was little, weak, and helpless;
tears and smiles like us he knew:
and he feeleth for our sadness,
and he shareth all our gladness.

4 And our eyes at last shall see him
through his own redeeming love,
for that child so dear and gentle
is our Lord in heav'n above;
and he leads his children on
to the place where he is gone.

Text Information

• First Line: Once in royal David's city
• Title: Once in Royal David's City
• Author: Cecil Frances Alexander (alt.)
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2013
• Scripture:
  Luke 2:52
  ;
  1 John 3:2
• Topic: Christmas; Epiphany; Jesus Christ: Redeemer; Jesus Christ's Humanity; Jesus Christ's Life; Jesus Christ's Love

Tune Information

• Name: IRBY
• Composer: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805-1876
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7.
• Key: F Major or modal