Coventry Carol

Arr. David Jayden Anthony
Voicing: SSA
A Cappella: Yes

This arrangement is great for caroling in an all female group.
The “Coventry Carol” is an English Christmas carol dating from the 16th century. The carol was traditionally performed in Coventry in England as part of a mystery play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors. The play depicts the Christmas story from chapter two in the Gospel of Matthew: the carol itself refers to the Massacre of the Innocents, in which Herod ordered all male infants under the age of two in Bethlehem to be killed, and takes the form of a lullaby sung by mothers of the doomed children.

The music contains a well-known example of a Picardy third. The author is unknown; the oldest known text was written down by Robert Croo in 1534, and the oldest known setting of the melody dates from 1591.

Lyrics

Lullay, thou little tiny child
Sleep well, lully, lullay
And smile in dreaming, little one
Sleep well, lully, lullay

Oh sisters two, what may we do
To preserve on this day
This poor youngling for whom we sing
Sleep well, lully, lullay

Farewell, lully, lullay
Herod the king in his raging
Set forth upon this day
By his decree, no life spare thee

All children young to slay
All children young to slay
Then woe is me, poor child, for thee
And ever mourn and say

For thy parting, neither say nor sing
Farewell, lully, lullay
Farewell, lully, lullay
And when the stars fill darkened skies

In their far venture, stay
And smile as dreaming, little one
Farewell, lully, lullay
Dream now, lully, lullay