Ass or Sheep?
11. Dec, 2008 
12 Comments
Input Needed.
So we are going to sing “What Child is This” this weekend at NorthWood. Here is the start of the 2nd verse.
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
During rehearsals last night I realized that anyone under 40 is going to snicker when we sing it. So we went on a quest to find a one syllable animal that would have been at the manger. We came up with sheep.
So the question is, do we sing ass and let everyone try to hide their laughter, or do we change the words and sing sheep?
So this may be the only time you have permission to use what can be offensive language in the comments.
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Ass.
Definitely ass.
(Note: In Jars of Clay’s old Christmas EP they use “lamb.”)
“Donkey” is another alternative. It actually fits better in the melody of the song than “ass”. Then again, the way William Dix set up the syllable structure is such that about every syllable gets enunciated as two when using Greensleeves as the tune.
Here’s what I’m guessing is the overarching question at hand: since language is a conduit by which we as leaders teach God’s people about Him, and by which we as God’s people express our hearts to Him – which word choice will retain a greater amount of focus on Christ?
If you make the change, people who have sung the song for decades will definitely notice that there is a difference and they may even snicker when they realize what what was changed, but hopefully they’re also spiritual mature enough by that stage in their life to understand in the moment that purpose behind the change and keep going full-bore… while people who are younger or not as “churched” will never know the difference and will be more free from the potential diversion.
If you don’t make the change, people who have sung it all those decades will be content and it will challenge people who are physically or spiritual younger to see if they can still be authentic in their worship of Jesus while using vocabulary that may seem distant and even humorous in their cultural context.
I’ve used “donkey” for the last couple of years and people have been cool with it, so that’d be my vote.
Incidentally, we did a hymn one time that had a verse that spoke to the idea that God’s unchangeable love will carry us even when we’re old and gray. The original author used “hoary hairs”, but we sang “whitened hairs”. Gotta love 18th and 19th century English
I sheepishly say…..sheep?
I would use “a whole lot of oxen” instead of “ox and ass”.
sheep
Ass. It is the proper use of the word. Do you really think people would snicker? Maybe a 12 year old or two. But then again, I’m over 40…
Look at intent: in using “ass” you seek to maintain the original meaning of the lyrics and set the scene. Besides, if the under-40 crowd (whew! glad I’m now mature at 41!) can handle “virgin” they can handle this one, too.
My vote? Don’t change it.
I must add…
I just noticed your Twitter comment. Would it be “laughing your sheep off”?
We have a lot of visitors this time of year and some of them bring their kids to the service. I can only imagine the pep talks that take place before the walk inside, “No shouting or fighting and no cussing! Do you hear me Junior?” Hearing and seeing the “a” word (if you have it on the big screen) can distract them from the worship you are leading them through.
I vote for sheep.
I vote for Equus asinus
Thanks for the input and taking full advantage of using dirty words on a worship blog… we went with sheep