Singing Our Faith ‎#115

115. Jesus Our Brother, Kind and Good

1 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.

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 my 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 rafters high,
"I cooed him to sleep, so he should not cry.
We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I.
I," said the dove from rafters high.

6 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.

Text Information

• First Line: Jesus our brother, kind and good
• Title: Jesus Our Brother, Kind and Good
• Meter: 8 9 9 8
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2001
• Topic: Christmas
• Source: Traditional English carol

Tune Information

• Name: ORIENTIS PARTIBUS
• Composer: Pierre de Corbiel, d. 1222
• Harmonizer: Margaret Mealy, b. 1922
• Meter: 8 9 9 8
• Key: F Major
• Source: Harm from Sing for Joy
• Copyright: Harm. © 1961, Seabury Press