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The Friendly Beasts Lyrics
Jesus our brother, strong and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around Him stood
Jesus our brother, strong and good
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown
"I carried His mother up hill and down
I carried His mother to Bethlehem town"
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown
"I," said the cow, all white and red
"I gave Him my manger for His bed
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head"
"I," said the cow, all white and red
"I," said the sheep with curly horn
"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm
He wore my coat on Christmas morn"
"I," said the sheep with curly horn
"I," said the dove from the rafters high
"I cooed Him to sleep so that He would not cry
We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I"
"I," said the dove from the rafters high
Thus every beast by some good spell
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel
The gift he gave Emmanuel
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around Him stood
Jesus our brother, strong and good
"I carried His mother up hill and down
I carried His mother to Bethlehem town"
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown
"I gave Him my manger for His bed
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head"
"I," said the cow, all white and red
"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm
He wore my coat on Christmas morn"
"I," said the sheep with curly horn
"I cooed Him to sleep so that He would not cry
We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I"
"I," said the dove from the rafters high
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel
The gift he gave Emmanuel
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just so you know the last word of the 2nd line is "rood" not "rude".
This song is interesting because it looks at the birth of Jesus from the points of view of all of the farm animals there at the time. I love how each animal's verse is sung by different singer.
aw this song is so happy
it makes me giggle. and marry sufjan stevens.
This song is remarkable, not least because it dates from 12th century France.
Undoubtedly a highlight from Sufjan's Christmas collection, the amateur hour friends-and-family singing combined with Sufjan's musical treatment make this song just ooze with charm... and Shara Worden's wispy lines as the sheep could melt the hardest of hearts.
wow baroque, I wanted to check out this song to see if anyone commented about the sheep singer's voice...it is so light and soothing and kind and beautiful that it makes me want to tickle a baby or something
I know your comment was from ages ago but I've been trying to find out who it is, because it sounds very, very like Mindy White from Lydia/States to me. Gorgeous voice.
I know your comment was from ages ago but I've been trying to find out who it is, because it sounds very, very like Mindy White from Lydia/States to me. Gorgeous voice.
We used to sing this song as kids... I've never heard an artist sing it before. Great version.