Hark! The Herald Banjo Rings
Christmas 2011
December 24
The Friendly Beasts
Performed by Logan Barlow (vocals, jingle bells, and hand claps) and Kevin Jensen (vocals, guitar, bass, cowbell, tambourine, jungle snare, and hand claps)
Words: French carol, 12th century
Music: ORIENTIS PARTIBUS, French melody, early 13th century
Christmas eve is here! Our song today is "The Friendly Beasts" recorded by Logan Barlow and Kevin Jensen. I have very fond memories of this song because of the Tomie DePaola book Logan and I used to read every year when we were young.
Lyrics
Jesus our brother, kind and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around Him stood
Jesus our brother, kind and good.
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
"I carried His mother up hill and down;
I carried her safely to Bethlehem town."
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown.
"I," said the cow, all white and red
"I gave Him my manger for a 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 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 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.
Sources and more information
- New Century Hymnal, 1995.
- Hymns and Carols of Christmas