Away In A Manger
Eddy Arnold (Holiday) Lyrics
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Writer W.J. Kirkpatrick
Away in a manger, no crib for His bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head, The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the poor Babe awakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes, I love, Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my cradle 'til morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and ever I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care And lead us to heaven to live with Thee there.
The first verse of Eddy Arnold's classic Christmas tune, "Away in a Manger," conjures a vivid image of the humble beginnings of Jesus Christ. The song depicts the infant Jesus lying in a manger, with no crib to keep him comfortable or warm. The stars above provide the only light in the dark night, and they look down upon the infant Christ as he sleeps contentedly upon a bed of hay.
As the song progresses, the image of Jesus as a tiny, vulnerable child continues. In the second verse, the cattle begin to "low," or make noises, which wake the sleeping baby. Despite this, the infant does not fuss or cry, leading the singer to profess their love for "Thee, Lord Jesus." They ask that Jesus watch over them as they sleep, and that they wake in His presence. The final lines of the song are a prayer asking for Jesus to stay by their side and bless all children in His care, guiding them to heaven.
Overall, "Away in a Manger" is a touching Appalachian lullaby that celebrates the birth of Jesus and His role as Savior, while also highlighting the importance of God's love and protection. The song speaks to the timeless beauty of Christ's nativity and the joy that it brings to those who believe.
Line by Line Meaning
Away in a manger, no crib for His bed
Jesus was born in a manger with no comfortable bed to lay His head
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head
Although He was a baby, He was already revered as Lord
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay
He was born under a star, and it was clear that His birth was significant
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay
He was sleeping on the hay in the manger, showing how little He had in the way of material possessions
The cattle are lowing, the poor Babe awakes
The sounds of the animals around Him woke Him up
But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes,
Despite being awakened by the sounds around Him, He didn't cry or fuss
I love, Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,
The singer is expressing love for Jesus and asking Him to look down from heaven
And stay by my cradle 'til morning is nigh.
The singer is asking Jesus to stay close by, watching over him as he sleeps
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
The singer is once again asking Jesus to stay close by and be with him always
Close by me forever and ever I pray.
The singer's prayer is for Jesus to always be with him, throughout his life and beyond
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care
The singer is asking for Jesus to bless all children, who are under His loving care
And lead us to heaven to live with Thee there.
The final prayer is for Jesus to lead us all to heaven, where we can live with Him forever
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EVAN JOLLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind