109. 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 Jesus 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.

4 And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Thro' 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.

Text Information
First Line: Once in royal David's city
Title: Once in Royal David's City
Author: Cecil F. Alexander (1848)
Meter: 8 7 8 7 7 7
Language: English
Publication Date: 1974
Scripture: ; ; ;
Topic: Children: Hymns about Children; Christ: Birth; Christ: Example
Tune Information
Name: IRBY
Composer: Henry J. Gauntlett (1849)
Meter: 8 7 8 7 7 7
Key: F Major



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