The “Coventry Carol”, a lullaby of mothers to doomed
children, dates to the 16th century. It was part of a Mystery
Play, “The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors”, about chapter two of
the Gospel of Matthew. The carol is about the Massacre of the
Holy Innocents. The carol came to greater popularity after the BBC
broadcast it at Christmas of 1940, after the Bombing of Coventry: it
was sung in the ruins of the bombed Cathedral.
Sung on the Feast of the Holy Innocents (Dec 28):
Another version:
The Coventry Carol
Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
By, by, lully, lullay.
Lullay, thou little tiny Child,
By, by, lully, lullay.
O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing
By, by, lully, lullay.
Herod, the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All children young to slay.
Then, woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And ever mourn and sigh
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.
Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
By, by, lully, lullay.
Lullay, thou little tiny Child,
By, by, lully, lullay.
O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing
By, by, lully, lullay.
Herod, the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All children young to slay.
Then, woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And ever mourn and sigh
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.
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