Away In A Manger

Caroling is one of the best activities during Christmas in which people love to indulge. Weeks before Christmas, schools, church communities, and households start practicing mellifluous Christmas carols to perform on Christmas Eve. While decorating houses and Christmas trees, cooking delicious meals in the kitchen, or just simply sitting with a bunch of buddies, everybody loves reciting them. Christmas carols inspire and heighten the spirit of the feast. By singing these lovely carols, people dive in a pool of divine feelings they gather in their hearts for this special occasion. A number of Christmas carols speak about related Christmas traditions and unspiritual elements in an interesting and appealing manner. The melodious music injects life to the tremendous lyrics of Christmas carols. Some of the Christmas carols are quite popular and have a rich history. "Away in a Manger" is one of them.

"Away in a Manger" is a very famous and loved Christmas carol which was first published in 1885 in Philadelphia. All English-speaking countries in the world loved to sing this carol. According to the 1996 Gallup Poll ranking, this Christmas carol is one of the most popular Christmas carols in Britain. "Away in a Manger" was initially published in two different written compositions in an Evangelical Lutheran Sunday School collection in 1885 which was later edited by James R. Murray. The carol was given a tune known as "St. Kilda" by J.E Clark. The third stanza of the carol "Be near me, Lord Jesus" was firstly published in Gabriel's Vineyard Songs in the year 1882. Therefore, a great confusion aroused on the lyrics of the carol and was wrongly assumed to be Martin Luther's composition. The lyricist of the first two stanzas of the carol is till unknown. In 1895, the music of the "Away in a Manger" was given by William J. Kirkpatrick. This Christmas carol gained popularity when it became a common song in schools, concerts, and other Christmas programs. Today, it is one of the favorites of many Christians. Check out its lyrics in the lines below.

Away in a Manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright 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 Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there