292. 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 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 feels for all our sadness,
and he shares in 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 has gone.

5 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.
There his children gather round,
bright like stars, with glory crowned.

Text Information
First Line: Once in royal David's city
Title: Once in Royal David's City
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander (1848, alt.)
Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7.
Language: English
Publication Date: 1995
Scripture: ; ; ; ;
Topic: Christmas; Christian year--Christmas; Christ's Example
Tune Information
Name: IRBY
Composer: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805-1876
Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7.
Key: F Major
Notes: 89 D in 1891 Offices of Worship and Hymns



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