Infant Holy Infant Lowly

This is a Christmas hymn, which focuses on the baby Jesus.   It is based on a Polish Christmas carol, W Żlobie leży ktόż pobieży, which was probably written by Piotrowi Skardze (1536-1612), and published in Spiewniczek Piesni Koscielne in 1908.  The words are based on Luke 2:1-20.

Most sources say that this translation was made in 1920 or 1921 by English organist and playwright Edith Margaret Gellibrand Reed (1885-1933).

Contemporary worship music group The Porter's Gate (viz Kate Bluett, Isaac Wardell, and Paul Zach), have also written a completely different set of words, with similar themes, which are set to the same tune.

With meter 8.7.7.8.8.7.7, it is set to a traditional Polish mazurka tune, W ZLOBIE LEZY - composer unknown.

Downloads

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Lead sheet
(melody + guitar chords)

ABC notation

PowerPoint slides

SATB choir arrangement by Paul Christiansen

Piano solo - digital download

Examples

Contemporary setting - solo male singer with rhythm and guitar backing, professional recording

Male voice choir, with very light organ support

Unaccompanied trio with barbershop-style close harmonies

Lyrics

Original English-language version

Infant holy, infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing, noëls ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the babe is Lord of all, Christ the babe is Lord of all.

Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a Gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the babe was born for you, Christ the babe was born for you.

Porter's Gate version

This is a rough outline only - the full version is available on this website.

Infant holy, infant lowly, Heaven’s highest love come down
For the poor you left your glory .. Do they know you’ve left your crown.

Infant holy, infant lowly, you who once held Heaven’s power ...

Infant holy, infant lowly, king of kings and lord of lords ...

See more ...

• Christmas hymns
• Hymns from Poland

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY Infant holy, infant lowly, Heaven’s highest love come down
For the poor you left your glory and you laid aside your crown
Weak and helpless, here you slumber in a stable with your mother
As the shepherds gather ’round Do they know you’ve left your crown.

Infant holy, infant lowly, you who once held Heaven’s power
Now you lie here, cold and hungry in the silent midnight hour
With your parents wrapped in worry, still exhausted from their journey
You were helpless in that hour Yet you set aside your power.

Infant holy, infant lowly, king of kings and lord of lords
You have come to us with nothing, as the poorest of the poor
So we come to you in wonder, see you helpless as you slumber
And we lay our gifts before Christ the Savior, weak and poor.