Gopalu Daruwane

O shepherd children, why do you laugh,
with a joy such as was never known before?

Gazing off into the distance, so as to raise no sound,
what is it you are whispering, in secret?

Come to that cattle shed you can see far off,
come along with us, dear friends

O shepherd children, where are you going,
beckoning us on with a gesture of your hands?

You have never once seen us before,
and yet off you go, like this, dancing

Behold, a Son of God has come down from heaven,
let us go and see him, dear friends

This is a Christmas carol shaped as a charming little dialogue, a conversation between wondering onlookers and the shepherds on the first Christmas night. It opens with a question full of curiosity, O shepherd children, why do you laugh, with a joy such as was never known before? Something has clearly filled these simple herdsmen with unheard-of gladness, and the questioners cannot understand it. They notice the shepherds gazing off into the distance and whispering in secret, and want to know what has stirred them.

The shepherds’ answer is warm and inviting rather than boastful. They do not keep their joy to themselves, come to that cattle shed you can see far off, come along with us, dear friends. The good news is meant to be shared, and the first thing the shepherds do is invite others to come and see.

The second exchange deepens the wonder. The onlookers marvel that these strangers, who have never once seen them before, are so eager to include them, beckoning them on, going dancing with delight. And the shepherds give the reason that explains everything, the heart of Christmas itself, behold, a Son of God has come down from heaven, let us go and see him, dear friends. What the listener is left with is the infectious joy of that first night, ordinary shepherds so overwhelmed by the birth of the Saviour that they cannot stop laughing, and cannot help inviting everyone they meet to come along and see him too.