Brian Gardiner
Classical
Guitarist
Coventry Carol is not a true Christmas Carol. It speaks of Jesus as a baby, but not his birth. It comes from a play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors, a street theatre production performed in Coventry England in the 15th and 16th century. The carol itself dates from 1534.
The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors depicts King Herods Massacre of the
Innocents and the Coventry Carols lyrics are a mother's lament for her doomed
child.
- 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 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.
- That woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
- And ever morn and day,
- For thy parting neither say nor sing,
- By, by, lully, lullay.