Away in a Manger

Away in a Manger was first published in an 1885 Lutheran Sunday School book, by James R. Murray (1841-1905) but the author of the first two stanzas and the music's composer is unknown. The third stanza was added in 1904 by Dr. John McFarland of New York City. Because Murray published it with the subtitle Luther's Cradle Hymn (Composed by Martin Luther for his children and still sung by German mothers to their little ones), it created the misconception that the lyrics of Away in a Manger were actually written by Martin Luther himself.