Away in a Manger — Free Lead Sheet PDF (Eb, Bb, Concert)

Traditional (American) · 1880s · Traditional Christmas carol · Melody & chords only

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About Away in a Manger

A 19th-Century American Lullaby

Away in a Manger first appeared in print in the United States in the 1880s, and for many years was mistakenly attributed to Martin Luther, supposedly written for his own children — a charming story with no historical basis. The words seem to have originated with Lutheran communities in Pennsylvania, but the actual author remains unknown.

Two melodies are commonly sung to these words: the tune most familiar in the US, often credited to James R. Murray (1887), and “Cradle Song” by William J. Kirkpatrick (1895), which is more common in the UK.

If you are also building a Christmas set, Go Tell It on the Mountain is another free carol on this site worth pairing it with.

The Tune & Chords

A Simple Lullaby, Perfect for a Slow Ballad

This is one of the simplest and most tender melodies on this page — a narrow vocal range, a rocking 3/4 or 4/4 lullaby feel, and very little melodic ornamentation. That simplicity is exactly what makes it effective as a slow solo feature: there is plenty of space to add your own phrasing, vibrato and dynamics without fighting a busy tune.

One simplified concert-pitch harmonisation — traditional carols were passed down as melodies, so chord choices vary between arrangers and songbooks.

Using This Lead Sheet

A Gentle Feature for Church or Ballad Sets

Away in a Manger works beautifully as an unaccompanied or piano-and-horn duo feature in a church service, or as a quiet moment mid-set at a background-music gig where you want to bring the energy right down. Keep the tempo slow and let the phrasing breathe — this tune does not need to be rushed.

If you would like one-to-one guidance building a Christmas set or working on your reading and improvisation more generally, saxophone lessons in person in South East London or online are available. You can also browse the full Christmas lead sheet index for more free carols, including Carol of the Bells.