Away in a Manger



Away in a Manger is a Christmas song from Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas, Santa's Rockin'!, and Go Santa Go!. it's music was written by William J. Kirpatrick for the original version and James R. Murray for some versions and it's lyrics was written by Martin Luther.

Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas (1996)

 * M. Cook/J. Fatt/A. Field/G. Page (EMI)
 * Produced by The Wiggles
 * Vocals: Greg Page
 * Engineered by: Chris Brooks, Alex Keller, Roy Mollace, Aaron Ruig
 * Recorded at The Tracking Station Studios, Sydney
 * Guitars: Anthony Field

Santa's Rockin'!

 * Trad. Arr. Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, Anthony Field, Greg Page, John Field, Dominic Lindsay (Wiggly Tunes)
 * Music Produced by: Anthony Field
 * Musical Arrangement: The Wiggles, Dominic Lindsay
 * Vocals: Greg Page
 * Backing Vocals: The Wiggles
 * Manzillas: Craig Abercrombie, Brett Clarke, Ryan De Saulnier, Sam Moran, Paul Paddick, Mark Punch
 * Guitars: Anthony Field, John Field
 * Bass: Murray Cook
 * Keyboard: Jeff Fatt
 * Brass: Dominic Lindsay
 * Drums: Tony Henry
 * Percussion: Dominic Lindsay, Steve Machamer
 * Recorded at: Electric Avenue Studios, Sydney, Australia by Robin Gist

Go Santa Go!

 * Trad. Arr. Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Emma Watkins (Wiggly Tunes Pty Ltd)
 * Music Produced by: Anthony Field
 * Music Recorded and Mixed by: Alex Keller
 * Mastered by Don Bartley
 * Music Recorded at: Hot Potato Studios, Sydney
 * Vocals: Lachy Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Emma Watkins
 * Backing Vocals: Lachy Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Emma Watkins
 * Musicians: Anthony Field, Lachy Gillespie, Alex Keller, Simon Pryce, Emma Watkins

Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas! (2017)

 * Trad. Arr. Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Emma Watkins, Oliver Brian, Alex Keller (Wiggly Tunes Pty Ltd)
 * Vocals: Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Emma Watkins
 * Acoustic Guitar: Anthony Field
 * Bass Guitar: Alex Keller
 * Nylon Guitar: Oliver Brian
 * Keyboard: Lachlan Gillespie
 * Drum Programming: Oliver Brian
 * Music Produced by: Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie
 * Music Recorded at: Hot Potato Studios, Sydney, NSW
 * Music Recorded and Mixed by: Alex Keller

1996
Greg: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

The little lord Jesus lay down his sweet head

The stars in the night sky look down where he lay

The little lord Jesus asleep in the hay

The cattle a-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 side, 'till morning is nigh

2004
Manzillas: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

Greg: The little lord Jesus lay down his sweet head

Manzillas: The stars in the night sky look down where he lay

Greg: The little lord Jesus asleep in the hay

Manzillas: The cattle a-lowing, the baby awakes

Greg: But little lord Jesus, no crying he makes

Manzillas: I love thee lord Jesus, look down from the sky

Greg: And stay by my cradle, 'till morning is nigh

Manzillas: Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay

Greg: Close by me forever and love me, I pray

Manzillas: Bless all the dear children in thy tender care

Greg: And take us to heaven to live with thee there

Manzillas: Doo doo doo doo doo doo, mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm

2013
Wiggles: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

Lachy: The little lord Jesus lay down his sweet head

'Wiggles:" The stars in the night sky look down where he lay

Lachy: The little lord Jesus asleep in the hay

Wiggles: The cattle a-lowing, the baby awakes

Simon: But little lord Jesus, no crying he makes

Wiggles: I love thee lord Jesus, look down from the sky

Simon: And stay by my cradle, 'till morning is nigh

Wiggles: Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay

Emma: Close by me forever and love me, I pray

Wiggles: Bless all the dear children in thy tender care

Emma: And take us to heaven to live with thee there

2017
Lachy: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

The little lord Jesus lay down his sweet head

The stars in the night sky look down where he lay

The little lord Jesus asleep in the hay

(Instrumental break)

Simon: The cattle a-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

(Instrumental break)

Emma: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

Simon: The little lord Jesus lay down his sweet head

Emma: The stars in the night sky look down where he lay

Simon: The little lord Jesus asleep in the hay

Trivia

 * The song is sung and played differently in each version, including an instrumental version Raffi did on his Christmas album.
 * The 2013 CD version than the DVD version is longer with extra verses.
 * The Wiggles wrote some of their own lyrics.
 * The Wiggles rewrote And stay by my cradle to And stay by my side.
 * In the 1997 video version, Murray plays the Hofner bass guitar, although it's not heard. Anthony also plays the red Takamine acoustic guitar.
 * The 1996 version of this song used the music for Luther's Cradle Song, which was composed by William J. Kirpatrick.
 * The 1996 and 2017 versions play in C where as the 2004 and 2013 versions play in C and D.
 * The Wiggles arranged this song on their albums Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas 1996, Santa's Rockin'!, Go Santa Go! and Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas! 2017.