Dan Fogelberg ~ What Child Is This ~ What child is this who laid to rest On Mary's lap is sleeping

What Child Is This

What child is this who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping

This is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste to bring Him laud
The Babe, the Son of Mary

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding
Good Christian fear for sinners here
The silent word is pleading

Nails, spears shall pierce Him through
The Cross be borne for me, for you
Hail, hail, the word made flesh
The Babe, the Son of Mary

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh
Come peasant, king, to own Him
The King of Kings, salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him

Raise, raise the song on high
The Virgin sings her lullaby
Joy for Christ is born
The Babe, the Son of Mary

A Christmas carol with lyrics written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865 and set to the tune of "Greensleeves", a traditional English folk song, in 1871.

Although written in Great Britain, the carol today is more popular in the United States than its country of origin