Below Us All

Part of my cantata, this song was written with C. Michael Perry, a multi-talented composer and friend of mine.

This song is about how Christ, who was greater than all of us, was born under the lowliest of circumstances. He did not eat with Kings and rulers, but with the poor and the lonely. The people that sat at his feet were not well known, but humble followers of Christ, who knew and understood who He was. He was born in the lowliest and humblest of all places- in a manger, but those that were seeking him, knew that he was the King of Kings!

In a hollow cave was a stable made;
In a simple stall, in a manger laid,
Came a newborn King as no King would ever be.
On a night so still; not a sound was heard
Til an angel choir spread the Holy Word:
“There’s a baby born who will be the King of Kings.”
To a place below us all; to a lowly cattle stall,
From His throne of Glory
He came down to Earth to save us all!

And it all began in a hillside town
Where the shepherds watched and a star shone down.
But it changed the world, just a single, simple birth!
In a place below us all; to a lowly cattle stall,
From His throne of Glory
He came down to Earth to save us all!

While the an-gels sang and a star shone down
While the heav-ens rang ‘round that hill-side town
Did we lend our voice? Did we make the
Heav-ens ring?
To a place be-low us all; to a
low-ly cat-tle stall, From His
throne of Glo-ry He came down to
Earth to save us all!

(Away in a Manger)- sung by a children's choir
Away in a manger, no crib for His bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the heavens looked down where he lay;
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes.
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

(3rd verse in counterpoint with the choir)
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 fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

While the an-gels sang, and a star shone down.
While the heav-ens rang ‘round that hill-side town
Did we lend our voice? Did we make the Heavens ring?

To a place below us all; to a lowly cattle stall
From his throne of Glory He came down to Earth to save us all

Away in a manger
in a place below us all
The stars in the heavens looked down
on the baby born, on the King of Kings!

Copyright © 2011 Michael C. Perry and Lindy Kerby