The Coventry Carol
Mediaeval Baebes Lyrics


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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.

Then woe is me, poor Child, for Thee,
And ever mourn and say;




For Thy parting, nor say nor sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.

Overall Meaning

The Coventry Carol is a traditional Christmas carol that is believed to have originated in the 16th century. Its haunting melody and somber lyrics tell the story of the massacre of the innocents, the biblical event in which King Herod orders the killing of all male infants in Bethlehem so as to prevent the prophecy of the Messiah becoming true. At the center of the song is the image of the Virgin Mary holding her newborn son and mourning the tragedy that is about to unfold.


The lyrics of the song convey a sense of desperation and grief as the three sisters look for ways to protect the baby Jesus from the murderous intentions of Herod. The refrain "Lullay, Thou little tiny Child" is a soothing lullaby that Mary sings to her baby, but it also serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the dangers that await them. As the song progresses, the sisters lament the fate of the innocent children who will not live to see another day and express their own sorrow for not being able to save the baby Jesus.


The Coventry Carol has endured for centuries and remains a popular choice for Christmas services and concerts. Its melancholic melody and poignant lyrics continue to resonate with audiences around the world, reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas and of the preciousness of life.


Line by Line Meaning

Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
Hush little one, oh tiny child,


By, by, lully, lullay.
Sleep, sleep, lullaby.


Lullay, Thou little tiny Child.
Hush little one, oh tiny child.


By, by, lully, lullay.
Sleep, sleep, lullaby.


O sisters, too, how may we do,
Dear sisters, what shall we do?


For to preserve this day;
To keep this day safe and sound.


This poor Youngling for whom we sing,
This young child for whom we sing.


By, by, lully, lullay.
Sleep, sleep, lullaby.


Herod the King, in his raging,
Herod the King, full of fury,


Charged he hath this day;
Ordered on this very day,


His men of might, in his own sight,
His men of power, where he could see,


All children young, to slay.
To kill all the young children.


Then woe is me, poor Child, for Thee,
Oh, how sad I am for you, dear child,


And ever mourn and say;
And I will always mourn and say;


For Thy parting, nor say nor sing,
As you depart this life, I cannot say or sing,


By, by, lully, lullay.
Sleep, sleep, lullaby.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EVAN JOLLY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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