Once In Royal David's City

Christmas Carols Explained, #10

Dating back to 1848 when an Irish writer included it with other hymns for children, “Once In Royal David’s City” was like a Primary song meant to teach doctrine at an introductory level. In this case, its focus was the Apostles’ Creed, specifically regarding the birth of Jesus to Mary.

The lyrics offer a contrast between the humble conditions of his birth, and the exalted nature of his condescension/true power. I haven’t been pasting lyrics to these songs so far, but I’ll put this one here.

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;
when like stars His children crowned
all in white shall wait around.