Away in a Manger

Up waaaay to early.But I am subbing today at the school I am interviewing at which is 35 miles away. I am still debating taking the train and the bus. If I do that it will be after 6 pm when I get back and I will have to stop typing this blog post right now to go catch the 6:56 am train so I think I will be driving :) Say prayers for me to do well on this interview.If I land it, it is a game changer for me for the rest of the school year. And would certainly help me out financially (like being able to pay down on my car). 

Today's song is Away in a Manger. I am making it a point to chose live performances by Christian groups that I like. So today's version is a live performance by Casting Crowns (Mark Hall happens to be touring on The Story tour right now). You can find tour dates here http://www.thestorycd.com/tour/ to see if they are coming to a city near you!

No one knows who wrote Away in a Manger. Some people think it may have been Martin Luther, but others think that is unlikely. It came out in the late 19th century. It was first published in 1885 in Philadelphia's he Little Children's Book for Schools and Families. It is believed that it was read as a poem by Lutheran school children in 1883 in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther.Over 40 different melodies have accompanied the lyrics. The one that we use in the United States was written by James R.Murray in 1887 entitled Mueller. In the UK it is a song entitled Cradle Song that was written in 1895 by William J. Kirkpatrick. 

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
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

The cattle are lowing
The baby awakes
The ittle Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle,
'Til morning is nigh.

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 fill us forever
To live with Thee there 

 

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head 

 

The Lord of all creation,

Laid down His sweet head.

The Savior of a nation,

Laid down His sweet head