The Friendly Beasts

[Verse 1: The Narrator (Sufjan Stevens)]

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

[Verse 2: The Donkey (Denison Witmer) & The Narrator]

"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown

"I carried His mother up hill and down

I carried His mother to Bethlehem town"

"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown

[Verse 3: The Cow (Laura Myers) & The Narrator]

"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

[Verse 4: The Sheep (Shara Nova) & The Narrator]

"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

[Verse 5: The Doves (Vito & Monique Aiuto) & The Narrator]

"I," said the dove from the rafters high

"I cooed Him to sleep so that He would not cry

We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I"

"I," said the dove from the rafters high

[Verse 6: All]

Thus all the beasts, by some good spell

In the stable dark were glad to tell

Of the gifts they gave Emmanuel

Of the gifts they gave Emmanuel