Once in Royal David's City

Once in royal Davids 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. 

For He 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 cares when we are sad, 

And he shares when we are glad. 

And our eyes at last shall see Him, 

Through His own redeeming love; 

For that Child so dear and gentle, 

Is our Lord in heaven above: 

And He leads His children on, 

To the place where He is gone.