Once in Royal David’s City

Words by Cecil Frances Alexander and Anna M. Molgard

Music by Henry J. Gauntlett, arr. by Rachel P. Mohlman

With joy

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 mean, 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. One day He will come to greet us,
Blazing trails of glory past.
We will bow in adoration,
For our Lord has come at last.
Oh, the long-awaited morning;
We will shout in joyous praise.
Promised Lord at last to meet us,
Christ, the King of latter days.
Amen.