Gentle Mary laid her child

General information

Lyricist is Joseph Simpson Cook.

Settings by composers

• Melchior Vulpius SATB
• Charles West SATB

Texts and Translations

English text

1  Gentle Mary laid her Child
Lowly in a manger;
There He lay, the undefiled,
To the world a Stranger.
Such a Babe in such a place,
Can he be the Saviour?
Ask the saved of all the race
Who have found His favour.

2  Angels sang about His birth.
Wise men sought and found Him;
Heaven’s star shone brightly forth
Glory all around Him.
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight,
Heard the angels singing;
All the plains were lit that night,
All the hills were ringing.

3  Gentle Mary laid her Child
Lowly in a manger;
He is still the undefiled,
But no more the Stranger.
Son of God of humble birth,
Beautiful the story;
Praise His Name in all the earth,
Hail! The King of Glory!