710. 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 But 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.

4 Not in that poor, lowly stable
With the oxen standing by
Shall we see Him, but in heaven,
Set at God's right hand on high.
Then like stars His children crowned,
All in white, His praise will sound.

Text Information
First Line: Once in royal David's city
Title: Once in Royal David's City
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818-95 (abr., alt.)
Meter: 87 87 77
Publication Date: 2007
Topic: Christmas
Tune Information
Name: IRBY
Composer: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805-76
Meter: 87 87 77
Key: F Major
Copyright: Setting © 1957 Novello & Company, Ltd.



Media
More media are available on the text authority and tune authority pages.

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us