1. JESUS, OUR BROTHER, (<) STRONG, (>) GOOD,
HUMBLE BORN IN FARM ANIMAL HOUSE.
FRIENDLY ANIMAL (2h)STAND"each".
JESUS, OUR BROTHER, (<) STRONG, (>) GOOD,

2. (Role play from lf) ME++, SAY DONKEY, MY MANE BROWN.
ME++ CARRY HIS-lf MOTHER TRAVEL-UPHILL, TRAVEL-DOWNHILL.
ME++ CARRY HIS-lf MOTHER TO WHERE? BETHLEHEM.
ME++, SAY DONKEY, HAIR 4-CL'mane' BROWN.

3. (Role play from rt) ME++, SAY COW, (<) WHITE, (>) BROWN SPOTS.
ME++ GIFT-TO-lf MANGER. FOR-FOR? SLEEP.
ME++ GIFT-TO-lf H-A-Y. FOR-FOR? CUSHION HIS-lf HEAD.
ME++, SAY COW, (<) WHITE, (>) BROWN.

4. (Role play from lf) ME++, SAY SHEEP, CURLY-HORNS.
ME++ GIFT-TO-lf MY FUR MAKE BLANKET WARM.
CHRISTMAS MORNING HE-lf WEAR MY COAT.
ME++, SAY SHEEP, CURLY-HORNS.

5. (Role play from rt) ME++, SAY DOVE, SIT ROOF PERCHED-IN-RAFTERS
ME++ SING BEAK-TWITTERS, HE-lf SLEEP, NOT CRY.
SWEETHEART TWO-OF-US SING BEAK-TWITTERS.
ME++, SAY DOVE, SIT ROOF PERCHED-IN-RAFTERS

6. SO ALL ANIMAL WORK LIKE MAGIC.
IN THEIR HOUSE DARK, HAPPY.
||: alt.GIFT-TO-lf GOD WITH US (2h)HE-lf. :||

7. MYSELF ALSO HAPPY INFORM"all"
||: alt.GIFT-TO-lf GOD WITH US. :||
JESUS, OUR BROTHER, (<) STRONG, (>) GOOD.

Notes: (2h)STAND"each" - (2h)[V^], POs > signer, FOs away, descend in several locations to show where the animals are standing..

MANE - [4] touches FT to top of head and goes down the back of the neck and off the shoulder to indicate a mane.

BETHLEHEM - "B" CITY or HOUSE BREAD.

SPOTS - [bC], POs ><, FOs up, are alternately places on the body to indicate a number of spots.

MANGER - (2h)[V], POs ><, FOs up, interlock fingers.

CUSHION - the hands are held similar to MEETING but separated and the FTs don't close completely.

CURLY-HORNS - (2h)[S] are held above the ears like the base of the horns, then descend close to head and curl up only slightly.

FUR - (2h)[V]-CL'shear wool' - (2h)[C], POs ><, FOs away, descend against chest + (2h)[V] snip at upper chest, then snip at lower chest.

DOVE - BIRD + [B^] outlines the protruding chest.

ROOF PERCHED-IN-RAFTERS - (2h)[B] touch FT like a roof and with NDH held in place, a [V:] is place in the spot where the rafters might be.

BEAK-TWITTERS - the sign BIRD but with multiple beak closings and the bobbing in a figure eight, a la Stevie Wonder.

SO - (2h)[relaxed 5], supinate (POs from downwards to upwards in a loose way.

The signs between "||:" and ":||" are to be repeated.

alt.GIFT-TO - (2h)[X], POs ><, FOs up, nod downwards at wrist to show that something is given as a gift.

HE - Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

Lyrics:

1. Jesus our brother, strong (some versions have "kind") and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around Him stood,
Jesus our brother, strong and good.

2. "I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
"I carried His mother up hill and down;
I carried her safely to Bethlehem town."
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

3. "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.

4. "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.

5. "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.

6. Thus every beast by some good spell,
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Immanuel,
The gift he gave Immanuel.

7. "I," was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Immanuel,
The gift he gave Immanuel.
Jesus our brother, strong and good.

To hear a performance of this song, go to The Friendly Beasts.