Christmas Series
Away In A Manger
Stacie Marshall
“Away in a Manger” is a Christmas carol first written in the late nineteenth century and used broadly throughout the English-speaking world. This hymn centers around adoration of new-born baby Jesus as he lays in a manger. The lyrics call out for Jesus to “be near me” and “bless all the dear children.” Discover the lyrics and story of this amazing hymn and find video performances below!
Away In A Manger Lyrics
1 Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;
the stars in the heavens looked down where He lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
2 The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
3 Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay
close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
and fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there.
Source: Hymns to the Living God #111
Songwriters Unknown Published by Public Domain
The Story Behind Away In A Manger
“Away in a Manger” is a Christmas carol first published in the late nineteenth century and used widely throughout the English-speaking world. In Britain, it is one of the most beloved carols; a 1996 Gallup Poll ranked it joint second.
The popularity of the carol has led to many variants in the lyrics. The two most-common musical compositions are by William J. Kirkpatrick (1895) and James Ramsey Murray (1887).
The vast majority of early hymnals, including the earliest known to us, cite the words to German Protestant reformer, Martin Luther. Many go so far as to name the carol “Luther’s Cradle Song” or “Luther’s Cradle Hymn”, to describe the English words as having been transposed from Luther.
The claim of Luther’s authorship remained to be made well into the twentieth century, but it is now discarded as false for various reasons. For instance, no text in Luther’s known writings corresponds to the carol. Also, no German text for the hymn has been discovered from before 1934, more than fifty years after the first English edition. The German lyrics read awkwardly and seem to be the result of a translation from the English original.
Biblical Inspiration of “Away In A Manger”
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” ~ Luke 2:7
“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ~ Luke 2:12
“And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.” ~ Luke 2:16
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