What Child Is This?

"What Child Is This?" was written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865, set to the melody of "Greensleeves" — an English folk tune dating back to at least 1580 and often (incorrectly) attributed to Henry VIII. Dix was an unlikely hymn writer: by profession, he was a marine insurance company manager in Glasgow. But a severe illness that confined him to bed for months led to a spiritual crisis and creative outpouring.

During his recovery, Dix wrote several hymns, including this meditation on the Nativity. The lyrics pose a question — "What child is this?" — and answer it with increasing wonder: this humble baby in a manger is Christ the King. The contrast between the lowly setting ("such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding") and the divine identity creates a powerful theological tension.

The pairing of Dix's 19th-century text with the 16th-century "Greensleeves" melody — in a minor key, melancholy and yearning — gives the carol a haunting quality unlike any other Christmas song. It sounds ancient even though the lyrics are Victorian, creating an atmosphere of timeless mystery that perfectly suits the subject.