What Child Is This “She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

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Words: Will­iam C. Dix, The Man­ger Throne, 1865. Music: Green­sleeves, 16th Cen­tu­ry Eng­lish mel­o­dy (MI­DI, score).

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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.

(Am/Dm/Em) (C/F/G) (G/C/D) (Em/Am7/Bm7) (F/Bb/C) (Dm7/Gm7/Am7) (E/A/B) (A/D/E)

Am C G Em F Dm7 E (Em G D Bm C Am7 B)
What Child is this who laid to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping
Am C G Em F E Asus Am G (Em G D Bm C B Esus Em D)
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping
C G Em F Dm E (G D Bm C Am B)
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing
C G Em F E F E (G D Bm C B C B)
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son, the glorious One
F E Am (C B Em)
The Babe, the Son of Mary

Am G C (Em D G)
Who is this Child asleep in the manger
Am G Fmaj7 (Em D Cmaj7)
Tender and mild, this intimate stranger
C G/B Dm7 Am7 F (G D/F Am7 Em7 C)
Recklessly, wildly loving a dangerous world.
Am G C (Em D G)
Who is this Light invading our darkness
Am G Fmaj7 (Em D Cmaj7)
Glorious might the sun rising for us
C G/B Dm7 Am7 F G (G D/F Am7 Em7 C D)
Conquering night He captures the hardest of hearts
F (C)
We sing

C G (G D)
This is our God living and breathing
Dm7 F (Am7 C)
Call him courageous, relentless and brave
C G (G D)
This is our God, loving and reaching
Dm7 F (Am7 C)
Scandalous mercy and mighty to save

C G (G D)
Hallelujah, this is our God
Am F (Em C)
Hallelujah, this is our God
C G (G D)
Hallelujah, this is our God
F G F (C D C)
Sing praise

Who is this One who will not condemn us
Why would He come to shoulder our sentence
Nothing we've done will keep him from giving us grace
Who is this One? We watch and we're speechless
God's only Son, embracing our weakness
By His death He kills death, by His life He frees us to live
And we sing

This is our God, suff'ring and dying
Call Him the Hero redeeming the lost
This is our God, love sacrificing
All that is holy, accepting our cross

Labels: 16th c., 19th c., chords, christmas

  ¶ Tuesday, January 23, 2007