While no longer working under the Christian label, his most recent releases include 80s alternative inspired AWOL, which even features Andy Rourke of The Smiths on bass, the electronic collaboration with Service Unicorn, Romeo Drive, and a new spoken-word album Radio Teknika.
Away in a Manger
Kevin Max 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 on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,
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.
The cattle are lowing, the Baby wakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,
And stay by His 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 take us for Heaven to live with Thee there.
Kevin Max's rendition of the beloved Christmas carol "Away in a Manger" has a palpable reverence and humility that invite the listener to contemplate the profound implications of Christ's birth in a lowly manger. The lyrics describe the simple yet miraculous scene of the newborn Jesus lying in a bed made of hay, with only the stars in the sky as witnesses. Although the cattle nearby are making noise and waking the Baby up, He does not cry. The second verse expresses the singer's love and devotion to Jesus and a request for Him to stay near and protect him. The third verse expands the scope of the prayer to include all the children in God's care, and a plea for spiritual preparation for heaven.
The first verse sets the tone for the song by emphasizing the scene's humble circumstances. Jesus, the Lord of Lords, is born in a stable because there was "no crib for a bed." This underscores the miraculous nature of the Incarnation, that God chose to enter the world in poverty and obscurity. The second verse emphasizes the singer's personal relationship with Jesus, as he expresses his love to Him and invites Him to "stay by His cradle till morning is nigh." It portrays a sense of intimacy between the singer and God, which is a hallmark of Christian spirituality. The final verse expands the scope of the prayer to include all children in God's tender care, emphasizing God's love for all humanity and his desire for all to be saved.
Line by Line Meaning
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The baby Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room in the inn and had to sleep in a manger, a feeding trough for animals.
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head
As a newborn, Jesus slept peacefully in the manger, resting His head on the hay.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay
The bright stars in the sky shone overhead and watched over the newborn baby Jesus.
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay
The baby Jesus slept soundly on the hay, surrounded by the animals in the stable.
The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes
The sounds of the cattle awaken the baby Jesus from His peaceful slumber.
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes
Despite being awakened by the sounds of the animals, the baby Jesus does not cry, but remains calm and peaceful.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
The singer expresses their love for Jesus and asks Him to look down on them from the heavens above.
And stay by His cradle till morning is nigh
The artist asks Jesus to remain by the baby's cradle until the morning comes, to protect and watch over Him.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
The artist asks Jesus to stay near them always, offering comfort and love.
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray
The artist prays to Jesus to remain by their side forever, showering them with His love.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care
The singer asks Jesus to bless all children and care for them with His love and tenderness.
And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there
The artist prays for Jesus to prepare them for heaven, where they can live together in eternity.
And take us for Heaven to live with Thee there.
In the final line, the singer asks Jesus to take them to heaven so they can live with Him forever.
Contributed by Arianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.