The Coventry Carol

Lully, lulla, thow littell tine child,
By by, lully lullay
Lullay thow littell tyne child,
By by, lully, lullay!

O sisters too, how may we do
For to preserve this day
This pore yongling for whom we do singe
By by, lully, lullay?

Herod, the king, in his raging,
Chargid he hath this day
His men of might in his owne sight
All yonge children to slay,—

That wo is me, pore child, for thee,
And ever morne and may
For thi parting nether say nor singe,
By by, lully, lullay.

Lyrics: Traditional 16th Century
Music: Original three part arrangement attr. Thomas Mawdyke 1591, popular four part arrangement Sir Henry Walford Davies KCVO OBE (1869 – 1941)