The music for this carol was written by H.J. Gauntlett (1805-76) and catches perfectly the dignity and sincerity of the words, that were written by Mrs. C.F. Alexander (1832-95) who was the wife of the then Bishop of Ireland.

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 meek and lowly
Lived on earth our Saviour holy

3. And through all his wondrous childhood
He would honour and obey
Love and watch the lowly mother
In whose gentle arms He lay
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as he

4. For He 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

5. And our eyes at last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming blood
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone

6. Not in that poor lowly stable
With the oxen standing by
We shall see Him, but in heaven
Set at God's right hand on high
When like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around