Author:		Cecil F. Alexander, 1818-1895
Musician:		Henry John Gauntlett, 1805-1876

Play MP3 • Click to listen to the music for this hymn.

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.

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.

And 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.

Not within a stable lowly, With the oxen standing by,
But in heaven we shall see Him, Set at God's right hand on high;
With His children gathered 'round, His great praise shall e'er resound.