Coventry Carol
COVENTRY CAROL4.4.6 with refrain
Words: Coventry Mystery Play, 15th–16th centuryMusic: COVENTRY CAROL, Traditional English, 1591, 1591
Practice player: melody only, played by your browser. The intro is the closing line of the tune, as many churches play it. Melody and words transcribed from Carols Old and Carols New (1916), Carol 540, public domain.
Words
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 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 say,
For Thy parting nor say nor sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.
Scripture
The Bible passages this hymn draws on, in the King James Version.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Suggested for these Masses
- Epiphany of the Lord Jan 3, 2027
- Holy Family, Year A Dec 31, 2028
Related hymns
- Gentle Mary Laid Her ChildGentle Mary laid her Child
- We Three KingsWe three kings of Orient are
- Come, Your Hearts and Voices RaisingCome, your hearts and voices raising
- God Rest Ye Merry GentlemenGod rest ye merry, gentlemen
- Lo, How a Rose E'er BloomingLo, how a Rose e'er blooming
- The People That in Darkness SatThe people that in darkness sat