The Friendly Beasts

In this carol we hear how the donkey, the cow, the sheep, the dove and the camel each played a role in the Christmas Story.

The Friendly Beasts

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 him safely to Bethlehem town

“I” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

And “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 the curly horn

I gave him my wool for his blanket warm

He wore my coat on Christmas morn

“I,” said the sheep with the curly horn.

“I” said the dove from the rafters high

I cooed him to sleep that he should not cry

We cooed him to sleep my love and I

“I” said the dove from the rafters high.

And “I” said the camel all yellow and black

Over the desert upon my back

I brought him a gift in the wise men’s pack

“I” said the camel all yellow and black

Thus every beast remembering it well

In the stable dark was so proud to tell 

Of the gifts they gave to Emmanuel

 The gifts that they gave Emmanuel.

The current English words were written by Robert Davis in the 1920’s.  They tell the Christmas story from a different perspective. These words appear in a Nativity Play called “The Coming of the Prince of Peace’ arranged by William Sloane Coffin and Helen A. and Clarence Dickinson published by The H.W. Gray Company in 1920.

The beasts that were probably in the stable in Bethlehem remind us that all of God’s creation wants to tell the story of the Nativity. Farmers with livestock can identify with the words spoken by each of these animals. 

Mary probably rode a donkey on their trek to Bethlehem.  The baby was found lying in a manger.  This was the cow’s feeding trough and some of his hay may have been used for Jesus’s pillow.  The baby Jesus was wrapped in a wool blanket - the wool was the gift the sheep provided.  The dove said he and his love cooed the baby to sleep and the camel said he carried the gifts the wise men brought to give to the newborn king.  Each of these animals gave gifts to Emmanuel.

What gifts can we give to Emmanuel?  Have a great day everyone.

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