See also Maddy Prior & the Carnival Band. Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band… Read Full Bio ↴See also Maddy Prior & the Carnival Band. Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band have been teaming up since 1982 to revive interest in traditional carols and hymns and 18th century drinking songs. The band and Maddy Prior of course have their own separate projects and only work together from time to time. See also Maddy Prior & the Carnival Band. For more information see this Wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maddy_Prior).

Coventry Carol
Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band Lyrics

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Lully, lulla, thow littell tine child,
By by, lully, 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?

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

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

Lully, lulla, thow littell tine child,
By by, lully, lullay,

thow littell tyne child,
By by, lully, lullay!

Overall Meaning

The Coventry Carol is a Christmas carol that tells the story of the Massacre of the Innocents, wherein King Herod ordered the slaughter of all male infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill the baby Jesus. The carol begins with the soothing and gentle "lully, lulla" refrain, addressing the infant in a lullaby-like tone as "thow littell tine child." The second stanza then shifts to a group of women lamenting the plight of the "pore yongling," and trying to find a way to protect him. The final stanza then returns to the lullaby refrain, expressing grief and mourning for the child who has been senselessly taken by Herod's orders, and the pain of his separation from his loved ones.

Line by Line Meaning

Lully, lulla, thow littell tine child,
Hush, hush, little child,

By by, lully, lullay,
Good night, hush-a-bye

thow littell tyne child,
you tiny little child,

O sisters too, how may we do
Oh, what can we do,

For to preserve this day
To protect this very day,

This pore yongling for whom we do singe
This poor infant for whom we sing.

By by, lully, lullay?
Good night, hush-a-bye?

Herod, the king, in his raging,
King Herod, in his anger,

Chargid he hath this day
Ordered on this particular day,

His men of might in his owne sight
His powerful men, right before him,

All children yonge to slay,--
To kill all young children.