Hymns for a Pilgrim People ‎#98

98. The Friendly Beasts

1 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.

2 “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.

3 “I,” said the cow, all white and red,
“I gave Him my manger for his bed,
I gave Him hay to pillow His head;
I,” said the cow, all white and red.

4 “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.

5 “I,” said the dove, from the rafters high,
“I cooed Him to sleep that he should not cry,
we cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I;
I,” said the dove, from the rafters high.

6 Thus all the beasts, by some good spell,
in the stable dark were glad to tell
of the gifts they gave Emmanuel,
the gifts they gave Emmanuel.

Text Information

• First Line: Jesus, our brother, strong and good
• Title: The Friendly Beasts
• Meter: Irregular
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2007
• Scripture:
  Luke 2:12
• Topic: Christmas; Jesus Christ
• Source: Traditional English Carol

Tune Information

• Name: ORIENTIS PARTIBUS
• Composer: Pierre de Corbeil, d. 1222
• Meter: Irregular
• Key: F Major