Story Behind The Song

Two of my favortie carols as a kd were The Friendly Beasts and Away in a Manger, the latter of which was my first solo in a church Christmas pageant when I was four. The two songs both take place in the manger at Christmas and I figured out that they harmonize beautifully if you give Away in a Manger a two bar head start, so I mashed them up.

Song Description

I hint at the voices of the different animals in the manger as I sing the beloved carol "The Friendly Beasts" as a boy sings "Away in a Manger", which was my first solo in church when I was four. The songs mash well together in beautiful harmony if you give Away in a Manger a two bar headstart. The simple setting with solo guitar creates a nostalgic feel.

Lyrics

The Friendly Beasts/Away in a Manger (traditional)

Jesus our brother, kind and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around Him stood
Jesus our brother, kind and good.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed.
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay.
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

"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.

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

The cattle are lowing, the poor Baby wakes.
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle 'Til morning is nigh.

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

"I," said the dove from the rafters high,
"I Cooed Him to sleep so He would not cry;
We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I."
"I," said the dove from the rafters high.

"I," said the camel, yellow and black,
"Over the desert, upon my back,
I brought Him a gift in the Wise Men's pack."
"I," said the camel, yellow and black.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care.
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.
Thus every beast by some good spell
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel,
The gift he gave Emmanuel.

©2016 arranged by Johnny Schaefer-Auditory Verve Music, ASCAP

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