According to the The Impossible Songfacts, the Kelley Lovelace and Lee Thomas Miller penned mid-tempo ballad was released in March 2002 as the first single from his second album, man With a Memory . It became his first hit, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Country chart and #29 on the Hot 100. Nichols recalled to The Boot in a 2011 interview: "'The Impossible' was huge for me for a number of different reasons. It was my introduction to Country music. It was the first thing everybody saw of me, this brand new guy with this voice. I heard a lot of people say when they met me, 'Wow! We just pictured somebody a lot older, because it's a really country-sounding voice.' So, it was my introduction. It got people familiar with me."
Away In a Manger
Joe Nichols Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No crib for His bed,
The little Lord Jesus
Lay 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 Baby wakes,
But little Lord Jesus,
No crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus,
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side
Till morning is nigh.
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 take us to heaven,
To live with Thee there.
And take us to heaven,
To live with Thee there.
"Away in a Manger" is a beloved Christmas carol that tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The lyrics describe the peaceful scene of the newborn baby Jesus being laid in a manger (a feeding trough for animals) because there was no room for Him or His family in the inn. The first verse sets the scene by describing how there was no crib for Jesus, so He had to lay His head on a bed of hay. The second verse describes how the cattle were lowing (making a mooing sound) and wakes the baby Jesus, but He does not cry. The singer professes their love for Jesus and asks that He stay with them until morning.
The third verse becomes a prayer, asking Jesus to stay close by forever and love them. Then the singer asks Jesus to bless all the dear children in His tender care and to take them to heaven to live with Him there. The song ends with a repetition of this last line as an earnest request for eternal life with Jesus.
Overall, the song is about the love and wonder surrounding the birth of Jesus and a plea for Him to be present in our lives and protect us. It is a beautiful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas and has been sung by generations to celebrate the joy of the season.
Line by Line Meaning
Away in a manger,
In a stable where animals reside,
No crib for His bed,
No proper sleeping place for the newborn,
The little Lord Jesus
The Son of God, a baby named Jesus,
Lay down his sweet head.
Rests peacefully in the midst of hay,
The stars in the sky
The twinkling celestial bodies in the heavens,
Looked down where He lay
Gazed upon the infant's humble abode,
The little Lord Jesus,
The tiny, divine being named Jesus,
Asleep on the hay.
Slumbering on a makeshift mattress,
The cattle are lowing,
The mooing of cows can be heard,
The poor Baby wakes,
The young child is stirred from slumber,
But little Lord Jesus,
Yet the Son of God is composed,
No crying He makes;
He does not weep or wail,
I love Thee, Lord Jesus,
I have adoration for you, my Lord and Savior,
Look down from the sky
Cast your eyes upon me from the heavens,
And stay by my side
Be close to me always,
Till morning is nigh.
Until the new day arrives.
Be near me, Lord Jesus,
Remain in my proximity, my Lord,
I ask Thee to stay,
I implore you to remain with me,
Close by me forever,
Perpetually near me,
And love me, I pray!
Please love me unconditionally, I entreat!
Bless all the dear children
Bestow favor upon all the beloved offspring,
In Thy tender care
Under your compassionate protection,
And take us to heaven,
Lead us to paradise,
To live with Thee there.
Where we may reside with you for eternity.
And take us to heaven,
Bring us to the afterlife,
To live with Thee there.
Where we may perpetually abide in your presence.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Public Domain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind