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.