As it is approaching Christmas we are now looking at the top ten Christmas Carols. At number 6 is the Coventy Carol, this wasn’t selected during lockdown for the St Fillan’s online Songs of Praise.
This carol can be traced all the way back to 16th-century England. The lyrics refer to the ‘Massacre of the Innocents’ by King Herod, who in an attempt to ensure the death of the baby Jesus, ordered the death of all male children under the age of two in Bethlehem.
It’s also somewhat dark, as Christmas carols go. Its rather bleak lyrics tell of a mother’s fears for her child as she lulls him to sleep.
It is very different from other carols that are full of joy – it reminds us of the pain and suffering in the world – even at Christmas time.
Lully, lullah, thou little tiny childBye bye, lully, lully
O sisters too, how may we doFor to preserve this day?This poor youngling for whom we do sing“Bye bye, lully, lully”?
Herod the king, in his ragingCharged he hath this dayHis men of might in his own sightAll young children to slay
That woe is me, poor child, for theeAnd ever morn’ and dayFor thy parting neither say nor sing“Bye bye, lully, lully”
Lully, lullah, thou little tiny childBye bye, lully, lully