I am looking for a old Christmas carol (at least 20 years) that starts
out:  "Long ago in a stable -----(?), A donkey cried in his donkey way
'I'm not beautiful; I'm notbeautiful; no good to anyone am I'.  It may
have been recorded by Harry Belafonte or Ed Ames.

Hello.

The song was "The Ballad of the Christmas Donkey."  It was indeed
recorded by Ed Ames.

From an eBay listing:

"'68 Christmas 45 ED AMES Ballad of Christmas Donkey
Item Comments: TALE OF A DONKEY WHO KEEPS SAYING 'I'M NOT BEAUTIFUL
I'M NOT BEAUTIFUL, AND HOW ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS HAVE PURPOSES, ETC."
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=306&item=4062637565&rd=1&tc=photo

The album "Christmas with Ed Ames" is available from Music Stack:
http://www.musicstack.com/listings.cgi?find=christmas+with+ed+ames&search_type=title&media=All

The only lyrics available on the web are those kindly provided by
Hummer-ga in the comments below.

----------
search strategy:
"ed ames" christmas donkey

I hope this helps.

I got the answer I needed and in record time!

Hi hosee,

You'll find the lyrics at the following link, perhaps they'll help
someone come up with the music.

"Long ago in the stable hay,
A donkey cried in his donkey way,
'I'm not beautiful, I'm not beautiful,
What good to anyone am I?'

Heaven cried, 'Donkey,
you can carry,
Carry, Mary.
With Angels as your guide.'

Long ago on Christmas day,
The donkey sang in his donkey way,
'I feel beautiful, I feel beautiful,
As beautiful as anyone am I,

As beautiful, as anyone am I!'"
http://larwana.blogspot.com/2003_12_01_larwana_archive.html

Good luck,
hummer

I spend hours at the computer and came up with nothing.  You gave me
my answer in a few hours.  Thanks