The Donkey Book

Hee Haw Ho!

(A Children’s Christmas Story)

The little donkeys worked in Santa’s workshop during the day, carrying toys the elves had made to the many rooms where Santa would load his sleigh Christmas Eve.

Every evening the donkeys would sleep in the stable next to the famous reindeer who delivered the toys to all the boys and girls. The little donkeys looked with awe at the reindeer next to them and always cheered them Christmas Eve when the reindeer flew away with Santa and the sleigh.

Hear the composer’s original recording:

and the piano-vocal arrangement commissioned for this site:

Hee Haw Ho!

There is Bobby and Brian and Mable and Sue and Billy and Betty and Banjo and Boo

It was almost Christmas- reindeer had the flu
Santa he was worried said “what am I to do?”
I’ve got all these presents -so very little time
What is gonna happen?
My reindeer cannot fly!

There within the stables
With the reindeer too
Lived eight little donkeys
who cheered  them when they flew
As they raised the  big sleigh
the donkeys said “Godspeed”
Flying off with Santa
every Christmas Eve

Ho Ho No!
Oh what can Santa do?
Ho Ho No!
The reindeer have the flu
Ho Ho No!
Oh what can Santa do?
Ho Ho No!
Yeah Santa’s in a stew

Betty talked to Mable, Billy and to Sue
Sue  then  talked to  Brian, said “Santa’s in a stew”
Brian talked to Bobby, then Bobby talked to Boo
Boo said let’s  see Banjo‘
“he’ll know what to do”

Banjo said to Santa
let us pull your sleigh
I know we can do it
Please let us lead the way

Santa said well why not?
and got some reindeer dust
Put some on their big ears
Will it be a  bust?

And within a minute
they were in the air
all these little donkeys
and just a little scared
Then they started smiling
Were happy as can be
They would bring the children
presents  Christmas Eve

Hee Haw Ho!
They’re flying’ don’t ja know?
Hee Haw Ho!
The presents all in tow
Hee Haw Ho!
The donkeys saved the day
Hee Haw Ho!
They’re pulling Santa’s sleigh

Now on Christmas evening
Do not shed a tear
If you see  old Santa
without all  his reindeer
All the little donkeys
will pick up all the slack
All the little donkeys
they’ve got Santa’s back
Hee Haw Ho!
They’re flying’ don’t ja know?
Hee Haw Ho!
The presents all in tow
Hee Haw Ho!
The donkeys saved the day
Hee Haw Ho!
They’re pulling Santa’s sleigh!

Santa’s Song

(What Is Going On With My Reindeer?)

Santa is very upset because the reindeer have the flu and he is trying to come up with other ideas to deliver the presents.

Hear the composer’s original recording:

an arrangement for piano and vocal commissioned for this site:

Santa’s Song (What Is Going On With My Reindeer?)

What is going on with my reindeer?
They tell me they can’t fly
They’re coughing and they’re sneezing
with water in their eyes

What is going on with my reindeer?
It’s almost Christmas night
I have got to get on going
And be back by daylight

Maybe I could get an airplane
No that would never do
It could never land on a roof top
it would fall right through!

How about a helicopter?
That will not work too
Blowing all the snow off the rooftops
and making all that noise
waking girls and boys!

What is going on with my reindeer
They tell me they can’t fly
They’re coughing and they’re sneezing
enough to make me

Cry Ho No
If the sleigh can’t go
Yes enough to make me cry

Ho Ho No
If the sleigh can’t go
If the reindeer cannot fly

Banjo’s Song

(What Is It Like?)

Santa walked outside to his sled on the cold dark starry Christmas Eve with his head low. All the reindeer were coughing and sneezing and Santa had all these presents to deliver on his sleigh. Little Banjo went up to Santa where he was standing alone next to his sleigh. With big hopeful eyes he looked up at Santa and said “Let us help. Let us try to pull the sleigh!”

Listen to the composer’s original recording:

and an arrangement commissioned for this website:

Banjo’s Song
(What Is It Like?)

What is it like to be one of the reindeer?
What is it like to fly high in the sky?
What is it like to look at the world so far below?
What is it like above the winter snow?

What is it like to land up on the roof tops?
What is it like I’d really love to know
What is it like to be right next to the chimneys
With all the children sleeping down below?

Well I guess that I am just a hopeless dreamer
The reindeer always are the ones to go
And although I’m not as strong as any reindeer
I’d do my best to pull that heavy load

What is it like to be one of the reindeer?
What is it like to fly high in the sky?
Santa I want you to know that I am here for you

Santa I’m willing to try
Oh how I’m willing to try!
Santa I’m willing to try

To fly!
To fly!

and touch the stars

The Donkey Song

(What Are We Doing Way Up High?)

All of a sudden the little donkeys were floating in the air. They were laughing and giggling and looking at each other and could see for miles and miles across the snow. They would pull Santa’s sleigh!

The composer’s original recording:

and an arrangement for voice and piano commissioned for this website:

The Donkey Song
(What Are We Doing Way Up High?)

What are we doing way up high?
Could it be that we’re really flying?
We are now floating in the air
Yes it is true we’re really flying
Just like the birds everywhere

So much we’re seeing way up high
It seems now we can see forever
We’re seeing miles across the snow
And in our dreams we never ever
knew how far we could really go

The towns and cities now below us
We are on our way
Our little legs are moving faster
as we pull old Santa and his sleigh!

Yes we are sailing in the air
And we have never been so happy
We’re bringing gifts to girls and boys
And we are blessed to lead this journey
Of hope and love and joy