Once In Royal David’s City

From its composer and lyrics to why it can send fear into the hearts of the hardiest boy sopranos, here’s everything you need to know about the timeless Christmas carol ‘Once in Royal David’s City’.

‘Once in Royal David’s City’ originated as a poem, written by the Irish poet Cecil Frances Alexander in 1848. She published it in her hymnbook, Hymns for little Children.

Alexander, who is credited by many as the greatest hymn-writer in the English language, is also remembered for writing ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’.

A year later, an English organist by the name of Henry John Gauntlett discovered the poem and set it to music, creating the beloved Christmas carol we know today.

Once in Royal David’s City” is a song that had humble beginnings, but now holds a place of prominence each year in one particular service that is broadcast around the world by the BBC World Service and American Public Media.

The carol is the opening processional hymn for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held on Christmas Eve at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge in England. This has been the tradition since 1919.

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols was first held on Christmas Eve 1918, following World War I, which ended on November 11, 1918. A change in the order of service made the following year, including a rearrangement of the lessons, led to the service beginning with the hymn “Once in Royal David’s City.”

As the choir proceeds up the nave of the magnificent chapel towards the choir stalls and the altar, the first verse of the carol is sung as a solo by a boy chorister. The second verse is sung by the choir, and the congregation joins in the third verse. The arrangement, by Dr. Arthur Henry Mann, the organist at King’s from 1876 and 1929, is beautiful and moving.

According to tradition, the soloist for the first verse is chosen by the choirmaster immediately prior to the service. This is an honor for the individual choirboy and also a blessing because, with such short notice, it gives him little time to become nervous.

The History behind “Once in Royal David’s City”

“Once in Royal David’s City” was written as a poem by Cecil Frances Alexander.

Alexander was born in Dublin, Ireland in April 1818, the third child and second daughter of Major John Humphreys of Norfolk and Elizabeth Frances Reed. She began writing verse in her childhood.

What Is the Significance of These Lyrics?

Knowing this poem was written for children gives sense to the lyrics. “Once” is similar to how a fairy tale starts, as in “Once upon a time.” However, I am sure Alexander never intended for the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth to be thought of as a fairy tale or make-believe.

Other lyrics also seem to be directed at children and educating them in their behavior: “Christian children all must be/ Mild, obedient, good as He” and “For he is our childhood’s pattern/ Day by day, like us He grew.” Although nowadays we encourage children to behave well and to be good children for their parents, the Victorian era in particular expected children to have impeccable behavior and to be “seen and not heard.”

The verses, or stanzas, also suit the hymn being used as a processional carol, as used in the service at King’s College Cambridge. With: “Once in Royal David’s city/ Stood a lowly cattle shed” to “We shall see Him; but in heaven/ Set at God’s right hand on high.”  The verses lead those listening from the baby in the manger in the opening lines to the magnificence of Jesus in heaven set at God’s right hand in the final verse.

Some critics have found the last verse too sentimental, and omit it. Others have attempted to rewrite the end of verse three saying it is “neither real or psychologically sound.” Thus changing “Christian children all must be/ Mild, obedient, good as he” to: “Yet this child, our Lord and brother/ brought us love for one another.”

Who performs ‘Once in Royal David’s City’?

Traditionally, the first verse of the carol is sung a cappella by a boy soprano – now more often a female soprano soloist – before the full choir and organ join in for the second verse.

Since 1919, the Choir of King’s College Cambridgehas used ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ as its opening carol for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

The service takes place in the historic King’s College Chapel Cambridge on Christmas Eve at 3pm each year and is broadcast live on UK radio.

Every year one boy is chosen on the day, seconds before they’re supposed to sing, as the soloist. As is legend, the choirmaster points at his chosen singer as the broadcast starts. Talk about the nightmare before Christmas...

What are the lyrics to ‘Once in Royal David’s City’?

Once in Royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

And through all His wondrous childhood
He would honour and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.

For he is our childhood’s pattern; 
Day by day, like us He grew;
He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew;
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.