I recently wrote a poem called Darkness Fell, where I asked the question, what happens when hope appears? The question is, where does our hope spring from? It starts with a baby born. What Child is This is a Christmas hymn that talks about this child of hope who was born.
Lyrics to What Child is This
What child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the son of Mary.
William C. Dix, managed an insurance company, but his heart was in writing the poetry of worship. Born in Bristol, England in 1837 to a father who was a surgeon. He wrote more than 40 hymns in his life time, among them “As with Gladness Men of Old“.
The three verses of this song, which is more popular in North America than it is in it’s native land of England, were taken from a poem called “Manger Throne”.
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