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Once in Royal David's City
1 Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her Baby In a manger for His bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little Child. 2 He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all, And His shelter was a stable, And His cradle was a stall. With the poor, and mean, and lowly Lived on earth, our Savior holy. 3 Jesus is our childhood's pattern; Day by day like us He grew. He was little, weak, and helpless; Tears and smiles like us He knew. And He feeleth for our sadness, And He shareth in our gladness. 4 And our eyes at last shall see Him, Thro' His own redeeming love; For that Child so dear and gentle Is the Lord in heav'n above. And He leads His children on To the place where He is gone.
WORDS: Cecil F. Alexander
MUSIC: Henry J. Gauntlett
Theme: Christ: Birth