Christmas Lullaby (Still, Still, Still and Away in a Manger)

Away in a Manger is one of the most loved Christmas carols of our time. And it’s easy to understand why! The beautiful lullaby describes that special night over 2000 years ago, using text and melody to create an emotional response in the listener.

While Still, Still, Still is not as popular as Away in a Manger, it’s just as lovely and calming. That’s why these two lullabies fit so perfectly together as a Christmas medley.

Like the arrangement? Get the sheet music here:

Christmas Piano – Sheet Music Book

Still, Still, Still

Text

This Austrian Christmas carol describes Mary singing the baby Jesus to sleep. Like most folk songs, the text has changed over the years, but the standard German lyrics are attributed to Georg Götsch (1895-1956):

German Text	Literal English Translation
Still, still, still, weil’s Kindlein schlafen will! Maria tut es nieder singen, ihre keusche Brust darbringen, Still, still, still, weil’s Kindlein schlafen will!	Hush, hush, hush, for the little child wants wants to sleep! Maria sings to him, offers him her chaste breast. Hush, hush, hush, for the little child wants to sleep.
Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf, mein liebes Kind schlaf! Die Engel tun schon musizieren, bei dem Kindlein jubilieren. Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf, mein liebes Kind schlaf!	Sleep, sleep, sleep, my dear child sleep! The angels are making beautiful music, celebrating the little child. Sleep, sleep, sleep, my dear child sleep.
Groß, groß, groß, die Lieb’ ist übergroß! Gott hat den Himmelsthron verlassen, und muss reisen auf der Strassen. Groß, groß, groß, die Lieb’ ist übergroß.	Great, great, great, the love is enormous! God has left his heavenly throne and must travel on the road. Great, great, great, the love is enormous!
Wir, wir, wir, tun rufen all zu Dir: Wir waren gar verdorben. Tu uns des Himmels Reich aufzuschließen, wenn wir einmal sterben müssen. Wir, wir, wir,tun rufen all zu Dir.	We, we, we, are all calling to Thee: We were all really spoiled. Open up the heavenly realm to us, when we once must die. We, we, we, are all calling out to Thee.

*Please remember that this is just one of many versions of this text, both in English and German!

Music

No one knows who wrote the melody for this sweet lullaby. It first appeared in 1865 as part of an Austrian folk song collection, although some say the Christmas tune is based on a German melody composed as early as 1819. The slow, rising 2-note motif is reminiscent of a cradle rocking and comforting a baby.

Away in a Manger

Text

Away in a manger, no crib for a 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, 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.

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 take us to heaven to live with thee there.

First published in the late 1800s, the original text of Away in a Manger (the first two verses) was thought to be the work of religious reformer Martin Luther. In fact, in 1882, the song was nicknamed “Luther’s Cradle Song” and its publications read the inscription: “The following hymn, composed by Martin Luther for his children, is still sung by many of the German mothers to their little ones.” This idea has been debunked, however, as scholars have studied Luther’s writings.

So no one knows who actually wrote the first two verses of Away in a Manger. The third verse was written by John T. MacFarland in 1892.

Music

Due to the popularity of the text, composers throughout time have set the lullaby to new music. As a result of this, there are over 40 different musical settings of Away in a Manger! The most famous was written by James R. Murray in 1887 (I use this tune beginning at 2:39). And In 1895, William J. Kirkpatrick composed the version that appears in most hymnbooks today – the version in the opening of my medley. Here are a few early versions found in various hymnbooks:

And check out some of these other versions and arrangements:

Which version is your favorite?