Voices United ‎#62

62. 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, with God is over all,
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall.
There among the poor and lowly
lived on earth our Saviour holy.

3 For he is our lifelong pattern;
daily, when on earth he grew;
he was tempted, scorned, rejected,
tears and smiles like us he knew.
Thus he feels for all our sadness,
and he shares in all our gladness.

4 And our eyes at last shall see him,
through his own redeeming love;
for that child who seemed so helpless
is our Lord in heaven 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 Frances Alexander (1848, alt.)
• Meter: 8 7 8 7 7 7
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1996
• Topic: The Christian Year: C; Annunciation; Biblical Characters: David; Biblical Characters: Mary, Mother of Jesus; Children Praising; Christian Year: Christmas; Heaven(s)/Paradise; Jesus Christ: Birth and Infancy; Jesus Christ: Example; Jesus Christ: Reign; Jesus Christ: Second Coming; Obedience; Second Coming; Advent 4: Year A; Christmas Eve: Year A; Christmas 1: Year A; Christmas 2: Year A; Epiphany: Year A; Epiphany 5: Year A; Epiphany 6: Year A; Advent 4: Year B; Christmas Eve: Year B; Christmas 1: Year B; Advent 3: Year C; Christmas 1: Year C

Tune Information

• Name: IRBY
• Composer: Henry John Gauntlett (1849)
• Harmonizer: Arthur Henry Mann
• Composer (Descant): David Willcocks (1970)
• Meter: 8 7 8 7 7 7
• Key: F Major
• Copyright: Descant copyright © Oxford University Press 1970.