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

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

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.

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.

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.