Author: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1823 - 95 Hymnal: Service Book and Hymnal of the Lutheran Church in America #41 (1958) Lyrics: 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
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden
In whose gentle arms he lay;
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as he.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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,
When like stars his children crowned
All in white shall wait around. Topics: The Church Year Christmas Languages: English Tune Title: IRBY
Once in royal David’s city
My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files
