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 (501 - 569 of 569)
Text

The Song Book of the Salvation Army #77

The Song Book of the Salvation Army #929

Page Scan

The Songs of Zion #248

Page Scan

The Sunday School Hymnal #269

Page Scan

The Sunday School Hymnal #269

Page Scan

The Sunday School Hymnary #15

TextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

The United Methodist Hymnal #217

The United Methodist Hymnal Music Supplement #30

Page Scan

The United Methodist Hymnal Music Supplement #31

Page Scan

The United Methodist Hymnal Music Supplement #32

Text

The United Methodist Hymnal Music Supplement II #20

Page Scan

The World Evangel #165

Page Scan

The World Revival Songs and Hymns #157

TextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

The Worshiping Church #147

TextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

The Worshiping Church #149

The Youth Hymnary #d17

TextAudio

Timeless Truths #374

To Thee We Sing #d1

Text

Together in Song #318

TextPage Scan

Total Praise #203

Text

Total Praise #204

Treasure Songs for Schools and Churches #d18

TextPage Scan

Trinity Hymnal #641

TextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #204

TextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #205

Unity Song Selections #286

Page Scan

Universal Songs and Hymns #184

Vesper Chimes #56

Vineyard Songs #d11

Page Scan

Voices of Praise #149

TextPage Scan

Voices Together #257

Text

Voices United #69

Page Scan

Waves of Glory No. 2 #382

When Boys and Girls Sing #54

Page Scan

When the Little Child Wants to Sing #42

TextScoreAudioPage Scan

With Heart and Voice #80

TextScoreAudioPage Scan

With Heart and Voice #81

Text

With One Voice #644

Page Scan

World Wide Revival Songs No. 2 #178

TextPage Scan

Worship (3rd ed.) #378

TextPage Scan

Worship (4th ed.) #437

Page Scan

Worship and Conduct Songs #33

Page Scan

Worship and Conduct Songs #34

Page Scan

Worship and Praise #272

TextScoreAudioPage Scan

Worship and Rejoice #203

TextScoreAudioPage Scan

Worship and Rejoice #205

TextPage Scan

Worship and Service Hymnal #39

Page Scan

Worship and Song. (Rev. ed.) #83

Worship His Majesty #128

Worship His Majesty #129

Worship II, a Hymnal for Roman Catholic Parishes #d27

Worship in Song #d20

Worship in Song #d18

Worship in Song #d23

Worship in Song #d11

TextAudioPage Scan

Worship in Song #65

TextAudioPage Scan

Worship in Song #66

Worship the Lord #155

Worship the Lord #156

Worship #d21

TextPage Scan

Yes, Lord! #216

Young Children Sing, Church School Hymnal for Ages 3-7 #d6

TextAudio

Youth Hymnal #124

Page Scan

Youth Hymnal #125

Youth Melodies and Action Songs #d3

Youth Worship and Sing #30

Youth's Favorite Songs #d11

Text

生命聖詩 - Hymns of Life, 1986 #100

찬송과 예배 = Chansong gwa yebae = Come, Let Us Worship #157

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.