Steve and Tipper
“Away in a Manger” has always been one of my favorite Christmas songs. The lyrics have such beautiful imagery and meaning. I’ve always thought of it as a sweet lullaby.
The simple lines song make it sound like a folk song and the visuals of stars, hay, cattle, and meeting in heaven help reinforce the folk song feeling. The fact that no one knows who wrote the song also aligns it with other folk songs.
For many years Martin Luther, Protestant Reformer from Germany, was credited with writing the song. No one knows why, but in 1887 James R. Murray published the song in his book Dainty Songs for Little Lads and Lasses listing Luther as the writer of the song. Murray was a hymn writer and worked for a publishing company, so it’s probable that he truly thought Luther was the person who penned “Away In A Manger.” The version of the song published in Murray’s book only had 2 verses. During the years after the publication, the song spread in popularity as did the notion that Luther wrote it.
Two years before Murray published the song, the Lutheran Church published “Away In A Manger“ in a book titled Little Children’s Book giving credit to no writer and showing a completely different tune than the one so many of us know and love.
Shortly after WWI a Boston publishing company published the song crediting Carl Mueller with composing the music for the song.
During both World Wars people in the US shied away from singing the song because of its supposed connection to Martin Luther and Germany. But the popularity of the song returned after each war ended.
In 1945 American writer Richard Hill decided to unravel the confusing past of the song. Hill discovered Luther was not the writer of the song. “Away In A Manger” was practically unknown in Germany until it was introduced to the country by Americans. Hill verified that Murray composed the tune we are familiar with today. But Hill’s research could not find the original writer of the song. Research did show evidence that most likely an American during the mid 1800s wrote the song and then the song was passed down orally like so many of our other folk songs.
I hope you enjoyed Granny and Paul doing the old song!
Tipper
*Source: Collins, Ace. Stories behind the best-loved songs of Christmas. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2001. Print.
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I had to come back and be blessed by listening to them sing this again. Such sweetness reminds me of the innocence of childhood. It seems Christmas has come and gone too quickly this year. This helped me hold on a little longer!
Adorable!!!
Beautiful song and beautiful singing. Granny has such a beautiful voice. She knows who she’s singing about and that makes the song sweeter to hear. Please give Granny another sweet hug from me and tell her I love her and I’m still praying for her and all of you all. I love you all. Happy New Year!
Enjoyed hear Granny and Paul singing together. I saw the YouTube video on YouTube, but enjoyed watching it again. Thanks for sharing it with us. Looking forward to the New Year and what God has in store for us all. Blessings for a happy, healthy and fun New Year!
I love the harmony. I also want to thank you and the girls for keeping all that is going on with the storm damage restoration in the forefront. I was in Asheville and other areas for a week with another nurse 2 weeks after it hit and I know the info that comes from you guys is good. I sent you a message on our way home, we passed not far from you guys. Thanks again!
I love Away In A Manger. and I do like Jingle Bells to.Granny did a wonderful job. And so did Paul. Granny was beautiful inside and out. Happy New Yr. to everyone.
I hope you all got through the storms all right this morning!
Ed-we slept right through it 🙂 Well everyone but Katie did 🙂
The other tune I’ve heard “Away in the manger”, is to “Flow Gently Sweet Afton”. I love both tunes. ☺️
Everyone have a safe and peaceful New Year. May God bless 2025 with healing, health, prosperity; may hearts, homes and lives be restored and the love and salvation of Jesus rule with His grace, forgiveness and mercy.
always a favorite, made more so with Paul & Granny doing the singing.
Beautiful song, beautiful singing, no pretense.
Tipper,
Granny and Paul were a blessing to me this morning. Away in a Manger has always been my favorite Christmas carol. Have you seen the black and white Christmas episode of Andy Griffith where the mean storekeeper sings Away in a Manger with Andy and Ellie, while he’s looking through the jail window? The harmony is so sweet and perfect, just like Paul’s and Granny’s. It brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.
Thank you for sharing your life with me via blog and video. I’m just a few mountain ranges west of you, in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. I so love that you’re Celebrating Appalachia. I’m a 9th generation Tennessean, and I love my Appalachia so very much. I’m thankful that God put me here.
A blessed and peaceful New Year to you and your family.
Shelia
Sheila-Thank you! I don’t recall seeing that one but now I sure want to!
Paul’s and Granny’s singing of “Away in a Manger” is like a bit of heaven on earth. They harmonize beautifully. Prayers for the family, especially Granny during the New Year.
“Away in a Manager” has always been one of my favorites and hearing Granny and Paul sing it was beautiful. I think it is one of the first Christmas songs all our little folks learned for the Christmas plays at church. I just love to see little ones stand and sing this song. No matter if you are young or old, this song tells a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing and have a blessed Sunday everyone!!
I love that Granny still can sing along. She has a good voice as does Paul.
Wonderful song sang by beautiful voices. I always enjoy ready the history of all songs. Our SS lesson today is in Matthew chapter 2 about cruel King Herod trying to find the baby in that manager.
Debbie-I can relate to losing a relative on Christmas Day. I lost my precious Daddy Christmas Day 1976.
Although it’s a rainy day here in Clinton Tennessee, our hearts are full of sunshine and hope!
That was lovely. Always a pleasure hearing Granny and Paul singing. continued prayers for Granny and wishing you all a Happy New Year!
Paul and Granny that was great!! I was a singing along with you.:) God bless you and keep you. I’ve got to get to church so just know I sure appreciated sitting down and having my cup of coffee with ya all early this morning.
Always enjoyed both tunes but the one I was familiar with as a young child had the other tune as my Mother grew up in the Lutheran Church. Enjoyed the song with Paul and Granny!
Great singing!!! Granny is beautiful. Love her sweater which I know she made. God bless Granny and all of her family.
I love Away in a Manger, and Paul and Granny did a great job. Their voices blend together so beautifully! What a wonderful surprise that they sang Jingle Bells too!! I love Christmas, and I leave our tree and decorations up till January 6th to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. I am still watching Christmas movies and enjoying the Christmas lights on our tree and home. It takes so much preparation, and then Christmas Day seems to go by in a flash. The feeling and true meaning of the season lasts a long time in our hearts though.
So precious and wonderful! I never tire of hearing it and Granny and Paul have such sweet voices together. It is one of my favorites.
I can’t help but think was that night really calm and peaceful. I know having my babies was anything but calm. Maybe after everyone was settled.
It’s wonderful to think on our sweet Savior as a tender babe in His mother’s arms. So perfect! Light of the world! Thank you for sharing!
We travel today for our dear cousin’s funeral. She died on Christmas day. Always a hard time to lose someone, but seems a bit harder at Christmas. A close family friend went to Heaven the day after Christmas. Her service is Tuesday. Seems the Lord is taking a lot of His people home. Our hearts are so heavy, but we are trying to remember we will see them again and they are with Jesus whom loves them so perfectly. It’s only goodbye for a little while. Thank you for the prayers. Appreciate y’all.
Debbie-I’m so sorry. Will pray for all the families.
I always enjoy Paul & Granny singing together. Their songs always brighten my day. Happy New Year and continued prayers for Granny as 2025 approaches.
So sweet Tipper…..seriously, thank you for sharing your family with us, your family is just a breath of fresh air!