Jesus, our brother

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.

"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
"I carried your mother uphill and down,
"I carried your mother to Bethlehem town";
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

"I," said the cow, all white and red,
"I gave you my manger for your bed,
"I gave my hay to pillow your head";
"I," said the cow, all white and red.

"I," said the sheep with curly horn,
"I gave you my wool for a blanket warm,
"you wore my coat on Christmas morn";
"I," said the sheep with curly horn.

"I," said the dove, from the rafters high,
"I cooed you to sleep that you should not cry,
"We cooed you to sleep, my love and I";
"I," said the dove, from the rafters high.

Thus all the beasts, by some good spell,
in the stable dark were glad to tell
of the gifts they gave Emmanuel,
the gifts they gave Emmanuel.

Music: Orientis Partibus French melody (13th C)
Sequence: Cathouse Pandemonium, Ltd.