How should a KING come? Even a child knows the answer of course… but… He didn’t come as one might expect a KING to enter humanity. Listen to this beautiful song and try to take it in. It paints a picture of what we might expect from a royal arrival, then gently turns our thoughts toward the humble way our Savior actually came. The contrast is beautiful. The message is timeless.
As Christmas approaches or as we simply pause to consider the kindness of God, these words remind us to look again at the King who came in the most unexpected way.
Scripture for Reflection
Psalm 24:7 to 10
Lift up your heads, you gates. Lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory. The Lord Almighty, he is the King of glory.
Psalm 95:1 to 3
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord. Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
These verses help shape our hearts as we read the hymn and consider the wonder of Christ’s coming.
A Song Filled With Imagery
The lyrics begin with the splendor we might expect from the arrival of a king. Trumpets. Flags flying. Crowds cheering. A golden coach drawn by a pure white horse. It feels fitting for earthly royalty and aligns with what the world understands about power and importance.
The song then moves to what common people imagine about kings. Treasures. Riches. A castle glowing high on a hill. Beautiful surroundings and every comfort.
The hymn holds up these expectations and invites us to picture grandeur and majesty. Then it gently shifts our attention to a different kind of King and a different kind of entrance.
A King Who Came in Humility
Not in a palace. Not among crowds. Not with fanfare.
Christ came quietly, in a simple place, welcomed by Mary and Joseph and surrounded by common sights and sounds. The King of kings entered the world in humility. The beauty of this hymn is the way it highlights that contrast and leads us to worship the One who came not to be served but to serve.
When we read these lyrics or listen to the song, we are reminded that the Savior came near to us in a way that our hearts can understand. Gently. Quietly. With compassion. With purpose.
Listen to the Hymn
If you have never heard this song or if it has been a while, you may want to listen to the performance linked below. It captures both the majesty and the tenderness of this beautiful hymn. The gentle rise and fall of the melody makes the message even more meaningful.
How should a King come?
How should a King come.
Even a child knows the answer of course,
In a coach of gold with a pure white horse.
In the beautiful city in the prime of the day,
And the trumpets should cry and the crowds make way.
And the flags fly high in the morning sun,
And the people all cheer for the sovereign one.
And everyone knows that’s the way that it’s done.
That’s the way that a King should come.
How should a King come.
Even a commoner understands,
He should come for His treasures,
And His houses and lands.
He should dine upon summer strawberries and milk,
And sleep upon bedclothes of satin and silk.
And high on a hill His castle should glow,
With the lights of the city like jewels below.
And everyone knows that’s the way that it’s done,
That’s the way that a King should come.
How should a King come.
On a star filled night into Bethlehem,
Rode a weary woman and a worried man.
And the only sound in the cobblestone street,
Was the shuffle and the ring of their donkey’s feet.
And a King lay hid in a virgin’s womb,
And there were no crowds to see Him come.
At last in a barn in a manger of hay,
He came and God incarnate lay.
And the angels cried “glory glory to God”.
Earth was silent so heaven rang!
“Glory glory to God.”
Men were dumb so the angels sang,
“Glory glory to God,
Peace on earth good will to men,
Glory glory to God”.
(Carol and Jimmy Owens)
Words by Carol Owens, music by Jimmy Owens / arr. Tom Fettke, orch. Michael Lawrence. Choral Octavo. SAB. A majestic Christmas march! Tom Fettke has arranged Jimmy and Carol Owens’ powerful chorus with solid choral writing and colorful sequencing keys that respond to the magical poetry of the text: King Jesus will come, not in splendor, but in a humble manger in Bethlehem. A timeless masterpiece, certain to become a seasonal favorite!
How Should a King Come? Christmas Hymn, Lyrics, and Printable
Free Printable Lyrics
If you would like a simple version of the lyrics to print or frame, you can download the free 5×7 printable through my Payhip shop. This is the same format shown in the framed image above.
Download the free printable
>> How Should a King Come Printable
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This is beautiful and new to me, Lorraine. Thank you for sharing it!
I never heard that before. I like it.