Michael Hancock © 2004
2
This work was written to compromise two settings of an American hymn tune, incorrectly believed to have been written by Martin Luther. The first setting used is credited to Mr. James R. Murray(1887), while the second first appeared in Pennsylvania Lutheran literature after 1880. In my experience, they are today recognized as the Roman Catholic version and the Protestant version. In reality, they are both excellent examples of original American music, and denomimational differences are small and unimportant, especially during the time we set aside to remember the Birth of Jesus Christ.
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head. The stars in the sky look down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes; 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. My mother is singing to lay me to bed, my father has told me of the words Jesus said, "To Love One Another in Beautiful Ways;" may the Lord let us do so till the end of our days. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay; close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care and take us to Heaven to live with you there.
Michael Hancock © 2004
3
Away in a Manger [Cradle Hymn] Verses 1 and 2 anonymous Verse 3 by Michael Hancock Verse 4 by John Thomas McFarland
JAMES. R. MURRAY/American Traditional Arranged by MICHAEL HANCOCK
Sweetly, q = 95 - 105 3
mp
S. A. A - way
in a
man - ger, no
crib for a
bed,
the
lit - tle Lord Je - sus, lay down his sweet head.
The
A - way
in a
man - ger, no
crib for a
bed,
the
lit - tle Lord Je - sus, lay down his sweet head.
The
mp T. B.
12
S. A. stars
in the
sky
look down where he
lay,
the
lit - tle Lord
Je - sus
a - sleep on the
hay.
The
stars
in the
sky
look down where he
lay,
the
lit - tle Lord
Je - sus
a - sleep on the
hay.
The
T. B.
20
SOPRANO
S. cat
-
tle
are
low
- ing
low
- ing
the
poor
Ba
-
by
wakes,
poor
Ba
-
by
wakes,
but
TENOR T. cat
-
tle
are
the
Michael Hancock © 2004
but
4
24
S. lit
-
tle Lord
Je - sus
no
cry - ing
he
makes.
I
love
thee, Lord
Lord
Je - sus
no
cry - ing
he
makes.
I
love thee,
Je - sus, look
T. lit - tle
Lord
Je - sus,
look
30
S. down
from
the
down
from
the
sky.
And
stay
by
stay
by
my
cra
-
dle
till
mor - ning
is
till
mor - ning
is
T. sky.
And
my
cra
-
dle
35
S. A. nigh.
My
moth - er
is
sing - ing
to
lay
me
to
moth - er
is
sing - ing
to
lay
me
to
bed,
My
fath - er
has
My
fath - er
has
T. B. nigh.
My
bed,
41
S. A. taught
me
of the
words
Je - sus
said,
"To
love
one
an
-
o - ther
in
taught
me
of the
words
Je -
said,
"To
love
one
an
-
o - ther
in
T. B. sus
Michael Hancock © 2004
5
46
S. A. beau - ti - ful
ways,"
May the Lord let
us
do
so,
till
the end
of
our
days.
Be
beau - ti - ful
ways,"
May the Lord let
us
do
so,
till
the end
of
our
days.
Be
T. B.
52
S. near
me, Lord
Je - sus,
I
ask
you
to
stay,
close
by
me
for -
A. Stay
close
by
me for -
T. near
me,
Lord
Je - sus,
I
ask
you
to
stay,
close
by
me
for -
B. Stay
close
by
me for -
57
S. A. ev
-
er
and
love
me,
I
pray.
Bless
all
the
dear
chil - dren
in
ev
-
er
and
love
me,
I
pray.
Bless
all
the
dear
chil - dren
in
thy
ten - der
care
and
take
us to
Heav - en
to
live
with
You
there.
thy
ten - der
care
and
take
us to
Heav - en
to
live
with
You
there.
T. B.
62
S. A.
T. B.
Michael Hancock © 2004