Away in a Manger
Neil Diamond Lyrics


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Away in a manger
No crib for a 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 baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying he makes
I love you, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle
Until morning is nigh
Away in a manger
No crib for a 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 little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Neil Diamond's "Away in a Manger" are simple and sweet, capturing the essence of Christmas with poignancy and grace. The song depicts the birth of Jesus Christ, as he is laid down in a manger as a baby with no crib for a bed. The stars in the sky shine bright, looking down where he lays in a humble stable, surrounded by animals, and a few shepherds who have come to visit. We see the vulnerability of the baby Jesus, but also how peaceful he is, sleeping on a bed of hay, with no crying to be heard.


The lyrics then shift focus towards the singer who expresses love for Jesus, asking him to stay by his cradle until morning is nigh. As the song ends, we see the little Lord Jesus sleeping on the hay, surrounded by the soft glow of stars, in this quiet scene that is magical and uplifting.


Line by Line Meaning

Away in a manger
In a manger, far from people's sight


No crib for a bed
No proper place to sleep and rest


The little Lord Jesus
The son of God, who came to earth in human form


Laid down his sweet head
He slept peacefully with a calm face


The stars in the sky
The shining heavenly bodies up above


Looked down where he lay
Gazed at the place where he slept


The little Lord Jesus
The son of God, who came to earth in human form


Asleep on the hay
Slept peacefully on a pile of straw


The cattle are lowing
The cows are mooing


The poor baby wakes
The newborn child wakes up


But little Lord Jesus
But the son of God, in his human form


No crying he makes
Does not cry out loud


I love you, Lord Jesus
Expressing love towards the son of God


Look down from the sky
Gaze at the world from above


And stay by my cradle
Be near me, watch over me


Until morning is nigh
Until the new day begins


The little Lord Jesus
The son of God, who came to earth in human form


Asleep on the hay
Slept peacefully on a pile of straw




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: . TRADITIONAL, MICHAEL PHILIP MCGLYNN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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