Once. in Royal David's City

, Cecil Frances Alexander

Once in Royal David's City
3     -3   4 4   4-3 4-4  -44 
Once in Royal David's City
4        5  6 5    5-44 -344
Stood a lowly cattle shed
3        -3 4 4     4 -3 4-4 -44
Where a mother laid her baby
4  5 6  5     5  -44 -344
In a manger for his bed
-6-6   6     4   -5-5      55
Mary was that mother mild
-6-6    6       5  5-44 -344
Jesus Christ her little child
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 Saviour holy.

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 cares when we are sad,
And he shares when we are glad.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
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