Burl Ives - The Friendly Beasts

"The Friendly Beasts" Jesus our brother kind and good Was humbly born in a stable of wood 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 for to pillow his head "I" said the cow all white and red "I" said the sheep with a curly horn I have him my wool for his blanket warm And he wore my coat on that Christmas morn "I" said the sheep with a curly horn "I" said the dove from the rafters high 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 that they gave Emmanuel The gifts that they gave Emmanuel