Evangelical Lutheran Worship ‎#269

269. 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 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 Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing by,
we shall see him; but in heaven,
set at God’s right hand on high;
there his children gather round,
bright like stars, with glory crowned.

Text Information

• First Line: Once in royal David's city
• Title: Once in Royal David's City
• Author: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818-1895
• Meter: 87 87 77
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2006
• Topic: Advent; Christmas; Songs for Children

Tune Information

• Name: IRBY
• Composer: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805-1876
• Meter: 87 87 77
• Key: F Major