Away in a Manger
Keith Lyrics
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No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the heavens
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 cradle
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 fit us for Heaven
To live with Thee there
Away in a manger
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the heavens
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay
"Away in a Manger" is a Christmas carol that evokes a sense of nostalgia, conveying the feeling of a simple, peaceful nativity setting. The song is divided into three stanzas, and each stanza reflects on a particular aspect of the manger scene. In the first verse, the carol talks about how Babe Jesus was born in a manger since there was no room in the inn. He was laid on a bed of hay, and the stars in heaven shone down on Him. The second stanza alludes to the baby Jesus being awakened by the cattle; yet, despite feeling uncomfortable, The Lord makes no sound. The third and final verse shifts the focus to the singer, with the lyrics appealing to The Lord to stay close to the singer always, protecting and loving the singer, and in turn, The Lord is also urged to look after all the children and prepare them for Heaven's abode.
The use of the words and is what makes the carol emotionally resonant. This is what adds meaning to the simplistic melody. The use of repetition in the melody contributes to the overall impression of a lullaby. The tone and mood of the song also contribute to its popularity as it evokes a sense of peace and tranquility. "Away in a Manger'' carol was intended as a children's hymn but later found universal usage in Christmas themes, from church services to school performances. It has been performed in various languages and genres, including country, jazz and pop.
Line by Line Meaning
Away in a manger
In a humble and secluded place
No crib for His bed
There was no proper place for Jesus to rest
The little Lord Jesus
The Son of God who came to earth as a baby
Laid down His sweet head
He found a place to rest his head despite the absence of a crib
The stars in the heavens
The heavenly bodies that illuminated the night sky
Looked down where He lay
Observing the miraculous moment of God’s incarnation
The little Lord Jesus
The child who was the embodiment of God's love
Asleep on the hay
Resting peacefully on a bed of grass
The cattle are lowing
The animals present in the stable are making noise
The poor Baby wakes
The baby Jesus is awakened by the animals
But little Lord Jesus, No crying He makes
Despite being startled, Jesus did not cry
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
The singer expresses deep affection for Jesus
Look down from the sky
A plea to Jesus to offer divine guidance and care
And stay by my cradle
An appeal for comfort and security from God
Till morning is nigh
A request to remain present until daylight
Be near me, Lord Jesus
A request for God to provide companionship
I ask Thee to stay
A prayer for God's presence in life
Close by me forever
A wish to have an eternal relationship with God
And love me I pray!
A request to be loved unconditionally by God
Bless all the dear children
A prayer for all the innocent and vulnerable ones
In Thy tender care
Under the protection and compassion of God
And fit us for Heaven
Prepare us for the afterlife that awaits us
To live with Thee there
To be in the presence of God forevermore
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: William J. Kirkpatrick, Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind