There's a legend that at midnight on Christmas Eve the animals are given the power of speech to worship the baby Jesus. This carol is quite sheep centred, appropriately enough as Jesus is often referred to as 'The Good Shepherd'. I could see this one working well with a big electric folk band with a good bass player... anyone out there? Maybe I shouldn't write songs outside of my range ...it got a bit squeaky.
The Shepherd King
And on this night creation is given voice to sing,
To welcome the Shepherd King
Let every bird and beast now cry 'Welcome Him'
From farm and field, from wood and weald.
Let all creation now cry in welcome
From hill and dale, from heath and vale.
Cry out in new-found speech and song tell the story every one
Each to each Christ is born and welcome Him
Sing out the story loud and strong all the world should sing along
No more fear Christ is born and welcome Him and welcome Him.
At midnight oxen bold and the gentle ass
Speak of the stable at Christes Maesse
And in the manger, and swaddled upon the hay
There see the sleeping Holy baby lay
And warmed by their soft breath and their uttering
The baby wakes to their sweet singing
Cry out...
And on the hillside, listen
Angels call 'To Bethlehem go down ye shepherds all'
And through the night the flocks, angels guarding them
Burst into joy joyfully they sing
This new-born babe they tell us is now asleep
Will be a shepherd to his sheep
Cry out...
(Coda)
All birds and beasts your voices try
And all creation welcome cry
And welcome Him hear angels sing on high
And we reply come welcome Him
The Shepherd King, we welcome Him
