Away in a Manger Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Petula Clark Lyrics

The lyrics of "Away in a Manger" describe the humble birth of Jesus Christ in a manger. The song paints a beautiful picture of the newborn Messiah quietly lying in a manger, surrounded by farm animals, while the stars shine brightly above. The second verse describes the little baby waking up to the sound of the cattle lowing but not crying. The third verse and the final verse express love and gratitude to the Lord Jesus and a request to be close to Him forever. The songwriter asks for His blessing to be with all the dear children in His care and to fit them for heaven where they can live with Him.

The lyrics of this song have a deep religious significance as they narrate the story of Jesus’ birth and remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. The song has become a beloved Christmas carol throughout the ages and is widely sung in churches during the holiday season. The lyrics draw on the scripture readings during the Advent and Christmas season and speak of Jesus’ birth and his role in our lives as Redeemer and Savior.

Some interesting facts about this song are:

1) The original composer of this song is unknown, and the first two stanzas were probably written in the late 19th century in America
2) The melody commonly used today is attributed to William J. Kirkpatrick, an American songwriter and professor
3) "Away in a Manger" is often sung by children as it has a simple, easy-to-learn melody
4) The song has been adapted and recorded in various versions throughout the years by musicians such as Elvis Presley and Pentatonix
5) The song has two commonly used tunes - one is the "Mueller" tune and the other is the "Kirkpatrick" tune
6) It is also popular in the United Kingdom and is the second most popular Christmas carol there
7) The song has been translated to many languages, including German, Spanish, and French.
8) The carol was first published in 1885 in the Little Children’s Book for Schools and Families, edited by James R. Murray.
9) Many people believe that the lyrics in the last stanza, "And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there", refers to the concept of heaven as a place where souls are perfected.
10) The scene described in the song is reminiscent of the Nativity story in the Gospel of Luke in which a newborn Jesus is laid in a manger as there was no room in the inn.

Chords (Verse):
G
Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
D
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
G
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
D G
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

Chords (Chorus):
D
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
G
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
D
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
G D
And take us to Heaven to live with Thee there.