Cradle Song (Away in a Manger)

William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921) was trained as a musician, but made his living as a carpenter and furniture maker. He did manage to find a way to practice his true calling, publishing his first hymn collection in 1859 and later serving as a musician in the Union Army during the Civil War. After the death of his first wife in 1878, Kirkpatrick was able to devote himself full-time to music, first as a song leader at camp meetings and later as the music director at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. While he was there, he published the Little Children's Book containing his best-known hymn, "Away in a Manger," also known as "Cradle Song." Although it was for a long time assumed that the text was by Martin Luther, the text does not appear in any of his writings and these days, the author is simply listed as "unknown." With its sentimental lyrics and simple melody, "Away in a Manger" is often the first hymn that young children are taught. - James Leonard on allmusic.com