American singer-songwriter and author, Brad Paisley of West Virginia, treats us to his special version of this song on the 2018 CMA Country Christmas ABC TV special.
The country music artist delivers a heart-warming rendition of the carol with his own twist on the words accompanied by some fabulous guitar music, backed up by the drums.
Paisley first came to fame with his 1999 debut album “Who Needs Pictures”. Since then he has released 10 albums including his Christmas compilation.
Remarkably, all his albums have been certified Gold or higher by the RIAA. He has had 32 top 10 singles on the US Billboard Country Airplay chart with 19 of them at No. 1. This country music mega-star has sold over 11 million albums and has won more awards than you can count.
There is no doubt that “Away in a Manger” has to be one of the all-time favorite Christmas carols ever penned. There are a few different versions of the lyrics, depending on your locality, and it was originally thought to have been written by the German Protestant reformer, Martin Luther.
However, although the true origins of the words remain obscure, the song is now considered to be American in origin, dating from the late 19th century.
This tender carol is often one of the first taught to young children, but it does appeal to young and old alike. It has a simple melody and a simple message of God’s love, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. The sentiment of the song helps teach the true meaning of Christmas to each new generation.
Watch the video to enjoy Paisley’s laid-back country version of the beloved Christmas carol, “Away in a Manger”.
https://youtu.be/xXv6XtseWE8
