Day 4 - Cecil Frances Alexander took her position as an Anglican bishop’s wife very seriously. She accompanied her husband throughout his Ireland travels, scolding the wicked and praising the good, and most of all working with the youngsters, for whom she wrote a number of little poems and hymns. Her most famous collection was published in 1848 – Hymns for Little Children – and it was there that Once in Royal David’s City first appeared. A year later, H. J. Gauntlett discovered Mrs. Alexander’s poem and set it to music. The city, of course, is Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus and of His ancestor King David.
Since 1918, this carol has had the distinction of being played as the processional hymn during the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve at King's College, Cambridge, and is one of only two carols or hymns which has the distinction of being played annually; the other is Hark The Herald Angels Sing. [a big thank you to the website The Hymns and Carols of Christmas for this very informative note!]
This is one of my favorite carols (it takes me to St. Thomas Church in New York City where their choir, too, presents the Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve. Just other worldly.
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.
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.
And through all His wondrous childhood
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.
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.
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.
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;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.
Once in Royal David's City - Choir of King's College, Cambridge
Once in Royal David's City - Per-Olov Kindgren (guitar)
Once In Royal David's City - Sawlon (ukulele) . . . pure simplicity
. . . and a song from my youth, inspired by the carol, which I still love . . .
Christmas Song (Once in Royal David's City) - Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull
- but they cut out at the end of the song, "Hey, Santa! Pass us that bottle, will you?"
Once in Royal David's City stood a lonely cattle shed,
Where a mother held her baby.
You'd do well to remember the things He later said.
When you're stuffing yourselves at the Christmas parties,
You'll just laugh when I tell you to take a running jump.
You're missing the point I'm sure does not need making
That Christmas spirit is not what you drink.
So how can you laugh when your own mother's hungry,
And how can you smile when the reasons for smiling are wrong?
And if I just messed up your thoughtless pleasures,
Remember, if you wish, this is just a Christmas song.
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