Please give today to support Hymnary.org during one of only two fund drives we run each year. Each month, Hymnary serves more than 1 million users from around the globe, thanks to the generous support of people like you, and we are so grateful.

Tax-deductible donations can be made securely online using this link.

Alternatively, you may write a check to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Away in a Manger

Representative Text

1 Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;
the stars in the heavens looked down where He lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

2 The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.

3 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 fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there.


Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #230

Author (attributed to): Martin Luther

Luther, Martin, born at Eisleben, Nov. 10, 1483; entered the University of Erfurt, 1501 (B.A. 1502, M.A.. 1503); became an Augustinian monk, 1505; ordained priest, 1507; appointed Professor at the University of Wittenberg, 1508, and in 1512 D.D.; published his 95 Theses, 1517; and burnt the Papal Bull which had condemned them, 1520; attended the Diet of Worms, 1521; translated the Bible into German, 1521-34; and died at Eisleben, Feb. 18, 1546. The details of his life and of his work as a reformer are accessible to English readers in a great variety of forms. Luther had a huge influence on German hymnody. i. Hymn Books. 1. Ellich cristlich lider Lobgesang un Psalm. Wittenberg, 1524. [Hamburg Library.] This contains 8 German h… Go to person page >

Author (st. 1-2): Anonymous

In some hymnals, the editors noted that a hymn's author is unknown to them, and so this artificial "person" entry is used to reflect that fact. Obviously, the hymns attributed to "Author Unknown" "Unknown" or "Anonymous" could have been written by many people over a span of many centuries. Go to person page >

Author (v. 3, attr.): John T. McFarland

(no biographical information available about John T. McFarland.) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
Title: Away in a Manger
Author (st. 1-2): Anonymous (1885)
Author (v. 3, attr.): John T. McFarland (1892)
Author (attributed to): Martin Luther
Meter: 11.11.11.11
Source: Traditional carol
Language: English
Notes: Spanish translations: See "Al pobre pesebre del Niño Jesús" by Effie Chastain de Naylor; "Allá en el pesebre, do nace Jesús by George Paul Simmonds; Swahili translation: See "Kawadia siku za kuzaliwa" by M. G. Mtusoli; Esperanto translation: See "En bova fojntrogo anstataŭ litet’" by Ellen Gregory.
Copyright: Public Domain

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Luke 2:4-7

Stanzas 1 and 2 of this anonymous children's hymn were first published in the Lutheran compilation Little Children's Book for Schools and Families (Philadelphia, 1885). Charles H. Gabriel (PHH 24) published the text with an additional third stanza, also anonymously written in his Vineyard Songs (1892).

Though obviously a children's hymn, "Away in a Manger" is a charming favorite of many people, regardless of age. When people object to the "no crying" phrase in stanza 2, seeing it as a denial of Christ's humanity, they've really missed the childlike nature of this hymn. "Away in a Manger" has a lullaby character in stanzas 1 and 2; stanza 3 is an evening bedtime prayer.

Liturgical Use:
Christmas season, perhaps best on Christmas Eve or on a similar evening worship service.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Notes

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Luke 2:4-7

Stanzas 1 and 2 of this anonymous children's hymn were first published in the Lutheran compilation Little Children's Book for Schools and Families (Philadelphia, 1885). Charles H. Gabriel (PHH 24) published the text with an additional third stanza, also anonymously written in his Vineyard Songs (1892).

Though obviously a children's hymn, "Away in a Manger" is a charming favorite of many people, regardless of age. When people object to the "no crying" phrase in stanza 2, seeing it as a denial of Christ's humanity, they've really missed the childlike nature of this hymn. "Away in a Manger" has a lullaby character in stanzas 1 and 2; stanza 3 is an evening bedtime prayer.

Liturgical Use:
Christmas season, perhaps best on Christmas Eve or on a similar evening worship service.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Hymnary Pro Subscribers
Access an additional article on the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology:
Hymnary Pro subscribers have full access to the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Subscribe now

Tune

MUELLER (Murray)

With the original two-stanza text, AWAY IN A MANGER was first published in James R. Murray's Dainty Songs for Little Lads and Lasses (1887) and initialed “J. R. M.” Murray (b. Andover, MA, 1841; d. Cincinnati, OH, 1905) compiled the songbook and is now thought to be the tune's composer. However,…

Go to tune page >


CRADLE SONG (Kirkpatrick)


Timeline

Media

You have access to this FlexScore.
Download:
Are parts of this score outside of your desired range? Try transposing this FlexScore.
General Settings
Stanza Selection
Voice Selection
Text size:
Music size:
Transpose (Half Steps):
Capo:
Contacting server...
Contacting server...
Questions? Check out the FAQ

A separate copy of this score must be purchased for each choir member. If this score will be projected or included in a bulletin, usage must be reported to a licensing agent (e.g. CCLI, OneLicense, etc).

This is a preview of your FlexScore.
Baptist Hymnal 1991 #103
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF)
The Cyber Hymnal #327
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #348
  • Full Score (PDF, XML)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #349
  • Full Score (PDF, XML)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
The United Methodist Hymnal #217
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF)
Worship and Rejoice #203
Worship and Rejoice #205
With Heart and Voice: songs for all God's children #80
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF, XML)
With Heart and Voice: songs for all God's children #81
  • Full Score (PDF, XML)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)

Instances

Instances (301 - 400 of 569)

Religious Education Music Manual #d9

Text

Revival Hymns and Choruses #147

Text

Revival Hymns and Choruses #150

TextPage Scan

RitualSong (2nd ed.) #522

Text

RitualSong #515

Rodeheaver's Sunday School Songs #d16

Page Scan

Royal Praise for the Sunday School #148

Sabbath Songs for Tiny Tots #d5

Sacred Songs for Church and Home #d38

Sacred Songs for Little Children #d3

TextFlexScorePage Scan

Santo, Santo, Santo #79

School Carols #d20

Page Scan

Select Hymns and Psalms #137

Select Songs for School and Home #d9

Selected Sunday School Songs #d13

TextPage Scan

Service Book and Hymnal of the Lutheran Church in America #47

Service Songs #289

Page Scan

Seth Parker's Hymnal #107

Seth Parker's Hymnal. 5th ed. #d8

Text

Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal #124

Silver Gems in Song #d7

Sing Glory #345

Sing Hosannas (a revised and enlarged ed. of Let Everybody Sing) #d25

TextPage Scan

Sing Joyfully #209

TextPage Scan

Sing Joyfully #213

Sing Noël #16a

Sing to the Lord #58

TextPage Scan

Sing With Me #87

Sing-a-story #d1

Text

Singing Our Faith #110

Singing the Faith #191a

Singing the Faith #191b

Singing Youth #d21

Audio

Small Church Music #31

Page Scan

Song and Study for God's Little Ones #87

Page Scan

Song Stories #36

Song Sunbeams #d4

Songs for Children #d7

Page Scan

Songs for Children #112

Page Scan

Songs for Children #115

Songs for Children, a Collection of Hymns and Other Songs ... #d5

Songs for Christian Worship #d16

Page Scan

Songs for Juniors #40

TextPage Scan

Songs for Life #129

Songs for Little Children #d6

Page Scan

Songs for Little People #44a

Page Scan

Songs for Little People #44b

Page Scan

Songs for Little People #60a

Page Scan

Songs for Little People #60b

Page Scan

Songs for Little Singers #43

Songs for Preschool Children #d2

Songs for Preschool Children (revised ed.) #ad2

Songs for Primaries #d6

Songs for Primary Children #d3

Songs for Primary Children #d3

Page Scan

Songs for the Sunday School #172

Page Scan

Songs of Cheer for Children #130

Page Scan

Songs of Cheer for Children #131

Songs of Faith and Praise #1017

Songs of Fellowship #36

Songs of Full Salvation #d11

Songs of Light #317

Page Scan

Songs of Praise #147

Songs of Praise for Schools #d6

Songs of Praise #353

Songs of Praise #23

Songs of Service #d6

Songs of the Church #665

Page Scan

Songs of the Tabernacle #124

Songs #178d

Page Scan

Soul-stirring Songs and Hymns (Rev. ed.) #433

Spiritual Songs and Hymns, for Use in All Gospel Services #d36

Page Scan

Sunday School Hymnal #188

Sunday School Joy Bells #d7

Sunday School Sings #d5

AudioPage Scan

Sunday School Voices #207

Page Scan

Sunny Songs for Little Folks Number One #49

Sunny Songs for Sweetest Singers No.2 #d1

The A. M. E. Zion Hymnal #508

TextPage Scan

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #86

Page Scan

The Abingdon Song Book #36

The Advent Christian Hymnal #d35

The Advent Christian Hymnal. Rev. #d28

The American Hymnal #429

Page Scan

The Army and Navy Hymnal #44

The Australian Hymn Book with Catholic Supplement #242

The Babies' Hymnal #d1

The Beacon Song and Service book #314

The Best Loved Hymns and Prayers of the American People #240b

The Book of Common Praise #d46

The Book of Common Praise #734

The Book of Hymns #d45

The Book of Praise #141

Text

The Book of Praise #149

The Book of Praise #729

Page Scan

The Book of Worship of the Church School #75

Page Scan

The Broadman Hymnal #314

The Call to Praise #d5

The Call to Praise, a Hymnal for Children's Division #d5

The Canadian Youth Hymnal #18

Pages

Exclude 406 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.