“Away In a Manger” Lyrics | Sheet Music
1. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,1
the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay;2
the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.3
2. 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 the cradle till morning is nigh.4
3. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay5
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.
1 or “no crib for His bed”
2 or “The stars in the bright sky”
3 “in” or “on the hay”
4 In an earlier 1885 publication, this line reads: “And stay by my crib watching my lullaby.” Murray’s 1887 printing reads: “And stay by my cradle to watch lullaby.” The current lyrics were first seen in an 1891 version by J. B. Herbert.
5 The third stanza appeared in 1892, and is ascribed to Dr. John Thomas McFarland.
Chord Progression in D - Chords: D | G | A7
D G D
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
A7 D
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
D G D
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
G D A7 D
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
