Away in a Manger
The gentle lullaby with a mysterious past
♫ Lyrics
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
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.
❄ The Story
"Away in a Manger" is one of the most beloved children's Christmas carols, yet its authorship remains a mystery. For decades it was attributed to Martin Luther — a claim that first appeared in an 1887 American Lutheran publication. This attribution is now considered false; scholars believe the poem originated in American Lutheran communities in Pennsylvania around 1882–1885.
The carol exists with two principal melodies. The version most popular in North America was composed by James Murray in 1887, while the melody favoured in the UK was written by William Kirkpatrick in 1895. Both melodies beautifully capture the gentle, lullaby-like quality of the words.
Its simplicity is its genius — the carol invites even the youngest singers to imagine the Nativity scene and to express a child's prayer for comfort and closeness. This has made it one of the first carols taught to children and a staple of nativity plays and school concerts around the English-speaking world.
🎶 Notable Recordings
A warm, paternal rendition
A gentle country interpretation
Fun Facts
The carol was falsely attributed to Martin Luther for over a century — he didn't write it.
Two different melodies are used: James Murray's (1887) in North America and William Kirkpatrick's (1895) in the UK.
The third verse ("Be near me, Lord Jesus") was added later by an unknown author around 1892.