Little Donkey
Nina & Frederik Lyrics
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Got to keeping plodding on wards with your precious load
Been a long time, little donkey, through the winters night
Don't give up now, little donkey,
Bethlehem in sight
Ring out those bells tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Follow that star tonight
Little donkey, little donkey,had a heavy day
Little donkey, carry Mary safely on her way
Little donkey, little donkey, journey's end is near
There are wisemen waiting for a sign to bring them here
Do no falter Little donkey, there's a star ahead
It will guide you, little donkey to a cattle she'd
Ring out those bells tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Follow that star tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Little donkey, little donkey, had a heavy day
Little donkey carry Mary, safely on her way
The song, "Little Donkey" by Nina & Frederik, is a Christmas classic that tells the story of the journey of Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem. The "little donkey" in the song portrays the animal that Mary rode on during her journey while she was heavily pregnant. The song starts with the image of a dusty road and a little donkey continuing to travel forward despite the load it carries on its back. The lyrics imply that the journey has been long, likely referencing the pregnancy of Mary and the hardships they may have faced in their travels during the winter nights. However, despite the difficulty of the journey, the lyrics encourage the little donkey to not give up and to keep plodding forward, presenting a message of perseverance.
As the song progresses, it highlights the importance of the destination - Bethlehem - and how the little donkey, Mary, and Joseph are undertaking this journey to reach that place. The lyrics mention the ring of bells and the bright star that shines in the sky above Bethlehem, further emphasizing the importance of the place they are heading towards. The song also notes the presence of "wisemen waiting for a sign to bring them here," indicating the sacredness of the destination.
The song has a gentle and soothing melody that contributes to its popularity as a Christmas song, and its meaningful lyrics about perseverance and the significance of the Bethlehem journey make it a powerful and enduring work.
Line by Line Meaning
Little donkey, little donkey on the dusty road
Addressing the little donkey that is walking on a dusty road
Got to keeping plodding on wards with your precious load
The little donkey has to continue walking with its important cargo
Been a long time, little donkey, through the winters night
The little donkey has been traveling for a long time, even through cold winter nights
Don't give up now, little donkey, Bethlehem in sight
The little donkey shouldn't give up because they are close to their destination, Bethlehem
Ring out those bells tonight
The bells are going to ring tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Referring to the destination of the little donkey and Mary
Follow that star tonight
Following the star will lead to Bethlehem
Little donkey, little donkey,had a heavy day
The little donkey had a tiring day
Little donkey, carry Mary safely on her way
The little donkey needs to safely transport Mary to her destination
Little donkey, little donkey, journey's end is near
The little donkey is getting close to the end of their journey
There are wisemen waiting for a sign to bring them here
The wisemen are waiting for a sign to come to Bethlehem
Do no falter Little donkey, there's a star ahead
The little donkey shouldn't hesitate because there is a guiding star ahead
It will guide you, little donkey to a cattle she'd
The star will guide the little donkey to a shelter for cattle
Ring out those bells tonight
The bells will ring again tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Referencing the destination once again
Follow that star tonight
Reinforcing the guidance of the star
Little donkey, little donkey, had a heavy day
Ending the song with repetition of the little donkey having a long day
Little donkey carry Mary, safely on her way
Stressing the importance for the little donkey to continue carrying Mary safely
Writer(s): Eric Boswell
Contributed by James R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@chrismillward1621
When life was so much better than it is now. I would not want to be newly born with the way this country is going.
@vernettewheeler5622
I remember when this first came out in the early 60's . loved it then love it now. So glad You tube keeps it available for us to enjoy.
@seamusmccarthy8204
This is certainly a blast from the past. I'm old enough to remember this version which dates back to my own childhood. The vocals and brass are a perfect combination. Even if I'm alone on this it's a classic. Thanks You tube for keeping it alive.
@suerichardson2067
+SEAMUS MC CARTHY You are not alone, it IS a classic. I too loved it as a child, I am 61 in 2 days.....and I still love it.
@basquill1
You are certainly not alone , I've loved this since I was a child.
@agnescleveland4108
Same here, Seamus.......at 75yrs. of age it's still my favourite Christmas song :-)
@patosullivan8391
I must been about 13 years then
@patosullivan8391
@@agnescleveland4108 me too ❤️
@jimmartin3162
Remember this well when being brought up - I still have the original 45rpm record, it was released in 1960. We played this on the record player every Xmas Eve during the 60's & early 70's when we were all a family. Happy memories.
@grittakuhlmann8927
Es gibt so viele, schöne , alte Lieder aber nirgendwo zu hören, echt schade...