




                 The Friendly Beasts
                   Traditional, 1200s







Jesus, our brother, kind and good 
   was humbly born in a stable of wood,
The friendly beasts around Him stood. 
   Jesus, our brother, kind and good.









“I” said the dove from the rafters high, 
   “I cooed Him to sleep
   that He would not cry,
We cooed Him to sleep, my love and I. 
   I” said the dove from the rafters high.








“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 donkey, shaggy and brown, 
   “I carried His mother uphill and down.
I carried His mother to Bethlehem town. 
   I” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.









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.








