Once In Royal David's City
Once In Royal David's City ( Engl. : Once in Royal David's City ) is a Christmas song that was originally a poem written by Cecil Humphreys ( Cecil Frances Alexander came). Two years after the poem was published, Miss Humphreys married William Alexander , who was ordained bishop in the Church of Ireland in1867.
history
Origins
Once In Royal David's City was first published in 1848 in the hymn book Hymns for little Children by Cecil Humphreys. A year later, HJ Gauntlett discovered the poem and wrote a melody to go with it .
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Since 1919 the chapel of King's College (Cambridge) has opened its service on Christmas Eve , the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols , with “Once in Royal David's City” as the opening song to accompany the procession . The first verse is sung as a solo by a member of the Choir of King's Chapel . The second verse is sung by the choir, and from the third verse on the congregation sings along. Apart from the first verse, the song is accompanied by the organ . Millions of listeners follow the live broadcast of this Christmas devotion on the radio .
The city"
The city (ger .: city ), spoken of in the song, is Bethlehem , from which the New Testament says that it was the birthplace of Jesus Christ and of his ancestor David .
Recordings
Recordings of this song exist in interpretations by the King's College Choir , Cantillation Sinfonia Australis , Jane Sheldon , The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and pop singer Sufjan Stevens on his compilation album Songs for Christmas .
The Christmas carol was the first ever recording by the King's College Choir under the direction of Boris Ord for EMI in 1948.
text
- 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; (1)
- 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 (2)
- All in white shall wait around.
(1) Or: “Jesus” is our childhood's pattern
(2) Or: “When” like stars His children crown'd