Coventry Carol - Traditional

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.
Thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we sing,
'Bye bye, lully, lullay?'

Herod the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might in his own sight
All young children to slay.

That woe is me, poor child, for thee
And ever mourn and may
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
'Bye bye, lully, lullay.'

Coventry Carol lyrics originate from a medieval mystery play in Coventry providing a stark and emotional contrast to the typically joyful carols of the season. The song Coventry Carol features the haunting refrain Lully lullay thou little tiny child capturing the sorrow of the mothers as they mourn for their lost children while Herod seeks to destroy the newborn King. It is a minor-key masterpiece that reminds the listener of the high cost of the Incarnation and the presence of suffering in the world. By singing the Coventry Carol lyrics the Church acknowledges the darker side of the Nativity story and the ultimate victory of the little tiny child over earthly tyranny.