The Presbyterian Hymnal ‎#49

49. 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, oppressed, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.

3 Jesus 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 heaven 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 F. Alexander (1848; alt)
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1990
• Scripture:
  Luke 2:4-7
  ;
  Luke 2:51-52
  ;
  John 14:2-3
  ;
  1 Corinthians 2:9

Tune Information

• Name: IRBY
• Composer: Henry John Gauntlett (1849)
• Harmonizer: Arthur Henry Mann (1919)
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7
• Key: F Major