The Nailsbourne Beast Song

A lovely little Somerset carol sung by Chris and Anne, it was collected from Ruth Tongue who was a folklorist, collector of stories and performer throughout most of the 20th Century. She says of this song in the book 'Folklore':

"The Nailsbourne Beast Song in the Cowman's mystery. It may only be sung by him to the cattle in the barn on Christmas Eve. If he is ill, or gives up his work, he must hand it on to a successor. The widow who sang it for me knew it because her husband had not, apparently, considered his successor a fit recipient, and had therefore taught it to his wife in order that she might hand it on to the 'raight one'. I, although a girl, was allowed to learn it because I was born in the chime-hours

The reference... to the Holy Thorn is of interest because there was a Glastonbury thorn at Nailsbourne that flowered on Old Christmas Eve, when all beasts can speak, and will, unless tethered, come to kneel there"

Tim

The Nailsbourne Beasts' Song

Oh the beasties all heard the angel call
When the cock sang “Christ is born”
And they all kneeled to pray down upon the hay
When the cock sang “Christ is born”

Chorus:
And the ruddick sang, oh the little ruddick sang
So sweetly sang-ed he
On Chrissimas morn on the blessed thorn
On a twig of the holy tree.

The oxen did low and the ponies they did bow
When the cock sang “Christ is born”
And the donkey roared “Praise our sweet Lord”
When the cock sang “Christ is born”

Chorus:

Let us kneel in the hay for 'tis Chrissimus Day
When the cock sang “Christ is born”
And there's bloom on the twig and the little lambs do jig
When the cock sang “Christ is born”

Chorus: