Her most popular song is All My Tears, which also featured parts by Emmylou Harris and jazz vocalist Jimmy Scott, was written after the death of Mark Heard.
Miller's musical career initially took off after singer Sam Phillips discovered a demo tape by the artist and turned it over to friends at Myrrh Records. Miller was signed to a contract and recorded her first solo album, Meet Julie Miller for the label.
After the 1998 Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland, local singer Juliet Turner performed a version of Broken Things at a memorial service for the victims of the bombing.
Buddy & Julie Miller teamed up with Victoria Williams, Mark Olson, and Jim Lauderdale for a European tour billed as "The Rolling Creek Dippers" in the 90's.
Away in a Manger
Julie Miller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
And stay by my cradle til 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.
Julie Miller’s Away in a Manger is a moving and empathetic rendition of the classic Christmas carol. The opening lines, “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head,” speak poignantly to the humble and meek origins of Jesus Christ. The imagery of a baby born in a stable without a proper bed or a warm blanket is both heart-warming and heart-breaking, and sets the stage for the rest of the song. The second line, “The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,” evokes the cosmic significance of Jesus’ birth, suggesting that even the heavens themselves were aware of the momentous events taking place that night.
As the song progresses, we hear of the cattle lowing and the baby Jesus awakening, but there is no crying to be heard. This unusual lack of crying is indicative of Jesus’ miraculous and divine nature, setting Him apart from other human infants. The tenderness and humility of the lyrics continue to build as we hear the singer professing their love for Jesus and asking Him to stay close by forever. The final verse is a prayer of blessing on all children, asking Jesus to take care of them and ultimately take them to heaven to live with Him there. Overall, Miller’s version of Away in a Manger is a beautiful testament to the true meaning of Christmas, reminding us of the simplicity, humility, and love embodied by Jesus Christ.
Line by Line Meaning
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus had nowhere to lay his head, even though he was the son of God.
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
Despite not having a bed, the little Lord Jesus found rest and comfort in laying down his head in a manger.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
Even the stars in the sky recognized the birth of the little Lord Jesus and shone down on him in the humble manger.
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The little Lord Jesus found peaceful sleep surrounded by hay in the humble manger.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
The baby Jesus hears the sounds of cattle around him as he wakes from his peaceful sleep.
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
Despite waking up in a manger with animals nearby, the baby Jesus did not cry or fuss.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
The singer expresses her love for the Lord Jesus and asks him to look down upon her from the sky.
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.
The singer asks the Lord Jesus to stay close to her and watch over her while she sleeps at night.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
The singer once again asks for the Lord Jesus to remain close to her and be with her always.
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
The singer prays that the Lord Jesus will always stay close by her side, showing her love and guidance.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
The singer asks for the Lord Jesus to bless all of the children who are in his gentle and loving care.
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.
The singer expresses her hope and desire to be taken to heaven by the Lord Jesus, to live with him there forever.
Contributed by Ellie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.