The Donkey Carol
(Chorus): My name is breda Donkey
'Pon my back is de Christmas story
A carry God's son an' mercy
Down through the ages to wi glory
De baby born in Bethlehem's manger
Wi creator, redeemer, how stranger
Ole Balaam let mi carry him
Fi guh sell the Massa prophecy
An angel did appear to him
An' bring me square in history
Ole Balaam saw a star
Coming out of Jacob family
Jesus coming from beyond afar
To bring all sinners mercy
So one night breda Joseph call mi
Him seh O donkey come carry Mary
I know it was Balaam's prophecy
For Bethlehem's star was bright above me
No room, no room for the baby
Not a preacher in the earth was ready
So mi call 'pon mi animal family
Jesus cum guh mek yuh manger ready
The street was full of trafficking
While merchants count their money
Wi sang glory to man's joy born king
Jesus is the manger baby
Hush Mr. cow nuh bawl again
Red Heifer yuh sacrifice over
Likkle lambs guh skip 'pon de plain
Bethlehem bring forth the redeemer
Sweet likkle turtle dove you are free
The covenant of the ark is broken
Sweet Jesus bring love and jubilee
Same de greedy ole Balaam had spoken
But mi is donkey an mi work nuh done
A carry him before the cross
Mi labor till de second coming of the son
Sin is mi burden, but a him it cost
This song is written to the tune of Jamaican folk song: "Good evening, Mrs Cunningham
It is written for two voices that blend to sing the chorus, but sing each stanza in 2 parts. It
tells the story of Christmas from a donkey's point view, and yet stay true to the Bible
discourse.
Some words are peculiar to the Jamaican dialect for coloring of the song:
Breda: brother; 'pon:upon; de:the; wi:our; ole:old; mi:me; fi:to; guh:go
Cum:come ... had all words recapitulate to the Jamaican dialect even young Jamaicans would
have been alienated --- for the language was not encouraged in our homes where it was
considered bad talking. It is being revived through academics at the UWI again.
Copyright © L'Nass Shango | Year Posted 2009
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