Worship in Song ‎#88

88. 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 feeleth for our sadness,
And he shareth in our gladness.

Text Information

• First Line: Once in royal David's city
• Title: Once in Royal David's City
• Author: Cecil F. Alexander
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7.
• Publication Date: 1996
• Scripture:
  Luke 2:4-8
• Topic: Children; Christmas; Story of Jesus; Nativity

Tune Information

• Name: IRBY
• Composer: Henry John Gauntlett
• Harmonizer: David Budmen (1995)
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7.
• Key: F Major