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Burgundian Carol / Carol of the Beasts

[ Roud - ; DT BURGUNDN ; Bernard de la Monnoye]

This Burgundian Carol was written by Bernard de la Monnoye in ca 1700. It was translated by Oscar Brand and recorded by the Weavers for their 1951 Decca album We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Pete Seeger also sang the shorter Carol of the Beasts in 1967 on his Folkways album Traditional Christmas Carols. He noted:

A 17^th Century French carol, translated by Oscar Brand.

Janice Burns and Jon Doran got Carol of the Beasts from Pete Seeger’s album and sang it on their 2024 CD Great Joy to the New.

The Unthanks sang Carol of the Beasts on their 2024 album In Winter. Adrian McNally noted:

Written by French poet and lawyer Bernard de la Monnoye in the late 1600s and more commonly known as The Burgundian Carol, there are great versions by Don McLean and Pete Seeger, who named it The Carol of the Beasts. To have carols of the birds and beasts after one another seemed like too much of a gift so we went with those names! Known more for our restraint, it’s great to make a proper din now and again! Again, we’ve done our best not to worry about the religious content too much, focusing on the quality of songwriting, embracing the story of Christmas and for better or worse, its presence in our lives.

Lyrics

Burgundian Carol

The winter season of the year,
When to this world our Lord was born,
The ox and donkey, so they say,
Did keep his holy presence warm.
How many oxen and donkeys now
If they were there when first he came,
How many oxen and donkeys you know
At such a time would do the same?

And on that night it has been told
These humble beasts so rough and rude,
Throughout the noght of holy birth
Drank no water, ate no food.
How many oxen and donkeys now
If they were there when first he came,
How many oxen and donkeys you know
At such a time would do the same?

As soon as to these humble beasts
Appeared our Lord, so mild and sweet,
With joy they knelt before his Grace
And gently kissed His tiny feet.
How many oxen and donkeys now
Dressed in ermine, silk and such,
How many oxen and donkeys you know
At such a time would do as much?

Pete Seeger sings Carol of the Beasts

And on that night it has been told
These humble beasts so rough and rude
Throughout the night of holy birth
Drank no water, ate no food.

How many oxen and donkeys now
dressed in ermine, silk and such?
How many oxen and donkeys you know
At such a time would do as much?

As soon as to these humble beasts
Appeared our Lord, so mild and sweet
With joy they knelt before His Grace
And gently kissed His tiny feet.

How many oxen and donkeys
Now if they were there when first He came
How many oxen and donkeys you know
At such a time would do the same?