1. SLEEP INSIDE MANGER, NO CRADLE FOR HIS-lf BED.
BABY LORD JESUS, HIS-lf HEAD LAY-DOWN-HEAD.
STAR SCADS-OF SKY MANY-LOOK-DOWN-TO-lf SEE HIM-lf LYING-DOWN.
BABY LORD JESUS NOW SLEEP ON H-A-Y.

2. COW THEY-ctr MOO, PITY-ON-lf BABY WAKE-UP.
UNDERSTAND BABY LORD JESUS HE-lf CRY NONE #AT-ALL.
ME LOVE YOU-lf, LORD JESUS, FROM SKY PLEASE lf-LOOK-DOWN-ON-me.
STAY CLOSE-TO MY CRADLE UNTIL MORNING ARRIVE.

3. STAY CLOSE-TO ME, LORD JESUS, ME ASK YOU-lf PLEASE STAY.
CLOSE-TO ME FOREVER, AND LOVE ME, ME PRAY.
BLESS (2h)#ALL SWEET CHILDREN YOU-lf RESPONSIBLE TAKE-CARE-OF"each",
AND BRING US HEAVEN, WANT LIVE WITH YOU-lf THERE-Heaven.

Notes: MANGER - (2h)[5], FOs down interlace fingers and then separate while ascending in outward arcs.

CRADLE - (2h)[S], POs away, FOs up, grasp the frame of a cradle and rock it back and forth.

LAY-DOWN-HEAD - Slowly lower [S], PO > DS, FO up, hingeing at the elbow until fist rests on [B], PO down, FO > DS.

SCADS-OF - (2h)[5:], POs down, FOs away, move forward to show many beings.

MANY-LOOK-DOWN-TO-rt - (2h)[4], POs > DS, FOs up, FOs lower to face rt "from above".

HIM-rt - All underlined glosses are honorific indices ("indexes").

LYING-DOWN -[K], PO > NDS, FO away, is laid in the palm of [B] and circles CCW orthogonal ("perpendicuoar") to the body.

MOO - (2h)[5:] act as jaws and slowly open and close while mouthing "moo".

#AT-ALL - [A], PO away, FO up, moves > NDS and changes to [T], then moves > DS and changes to [L].

rt-LOOK-DOWN-ON-me - [V], PO > signer, FO up, bends down from wrist to "look" at signer.

(2h)#ALL - (2h)[A], POs ><, FOs up, are held at shoulder height and move away while opening to (2h)[L].

Lyrics:

1. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.

2. The cattle are 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 til morning is nigh.

3. 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 take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

To hear the music (without words), go to The cyber hymnal: Away in a manger.

To see another translation of this hymn performed, go to Away in a manger.