Once in Royal David's City

Words: Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)
Music: Henry J. Gauntlett (1805-1876)

Mrs. Frances Alexander, born in Ireland, is said to have been a quiet and reserved person, who wrote her poems for certain special occasions. She had no idea that they would ever appear in print and bring her recognition. Her eight books of hymns, including such favorites like There Is a Green Hill Far Away and Jesus Calls Us O'er the Tumult, contain about 400 songs.

Her Christmas poem, "Once in Royal David's City," was first published in 1848 in Hymns for Little Children. According to one source, the song was written by Mrs. Alexander for her godchildren 36, because they "told her that their Bible lessons were getting dreary." She wrote this nativity poem to help inspire their Bible study time.

In the carol, Mrs. Alexander tells the Christmas story simply, so all ages of children may understand it. She also wanted the children to realize what Jesus' birth meant personally to them, and in the third stanza told them:

"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."

The melody was written by the Englishman Henry J. Gauntlett, an organist, organ designer, and composer, who wrote over ten thousand hymn tunes.


Once in Royal David’s City

Once in royal Davids 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 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.