Lyrics

1. 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. 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. 3. 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.
4. Text: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818–1895
   Music: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805–1876