Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal ‎#149

149. 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 And through all His wondrous childhood
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly mother
In whose gentle arms He lay.
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.

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 Frances Alexander (1818-1895) (1848)
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7.
• Publication Date: 1985
• Topic: Jesus Christ: Life and Ministry

Tune Information

• Name: IRBY
• Composer: Henry J. Gauntlett (1805-1876) (1849)
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7.
• Incipit: 57111 71221 13533
• Key: F Major or modal