The New English Hymnal ‎#34

34. 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 Saviour holy.

3 And through all his wondrous childhood
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 in 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 heaven above:
And he leads his children on
To the place where he is gone.

5 *Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall we see him: but in heaven,
Set at God's right hand on high,
Where like stars his children crowned,
All in white shall wait around.

Text Information

• First Line: Once in royal David's city
• Author: Mrs. C. F. Alexander, 1818-95 (alt.)
• Meter: 87 87 77
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1986
• Topic: Procession; The Christian Year: Christmas; Mothering Sunday

Tune Information

• Name: IRBY
• Composer: H. J. Gauntlett, 1805-76
• Adapter: A. H. Mann, 1850-1929
• Meter: 87 87 77
• Key: G Major
• Notes: Revised also by Editors