Worship in Song ‎#78

78. 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 up hill and down;
I carried her safely 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 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 Immanuel,
The gifts they gave Immanuel.

Text Information

• First Line: Jesus, our brother, strong and good
• Title: The Friendly Beasts
• Author: Anonymous
• Publication Date: 1996
• Scripture:
  Luke 2:7
• Topic: Children; Christmas; Gifts; Story of Jesus; Nativity
• Source: 12th cent.

Tune Information

• Name: [Jesus, our brother, strong and good]
• Composer (melody): G. D. R.
• Key: F Major
• Source: 12th century French melody