The Birthday of a King

In the little village of Bethlehem,
There lay a Child one day;
And the sky was bright with a holy light
O’er the place where Jesus lay.

Refrain

Alleluia! O how the angels sang.
Alleluia! How it rang!
And the sky was bright with a holy light
’Twas the birthday of a King.

’Twas a humble birthplace, but O how much
God gave to us that day,
From the manger bed what a path has led,
What a perfect, holy way.

Refrain

Author: William Harold Neidlinger

Year: 1890

This Christmas carol was written and composed by W. H. Neidlinger (1863–1924). It first appeared in print around 1890 and is consistently attributed to him in hymnals and carol collections.