The Coventry Carol

The "Coventry Carol" is a Christmas carol dating from the 16th century. The carol was 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 refers to the Massacre of the Innocents, in which Herod ordered all male infants under the age of two in Bethlehem to be killed. The lyrics of this haunting carol represent a mother's lament for her doomed child. It is the only carol that has survived from this play.

The author is unknown. The oldest known text was written down by Robert Croo in 1534, and the oldest known printing of the melody dates from 1591.

Lully - this can be pronounced one of two ways - either lu-lee or lu-lie.  For our purposes, I prefer the 2nd pronunciation as it adds difference to its companion sound lul-lay. 

1^st verse EVERYONE:

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child, By by, lully lullay;
Lullay, thou little tiny child, By by, lully, lullay.

2^nd verse WOMEN:

O sisters too, how may we do, For to preserve this day,
This poor youngling for whom we sing, By by, lully, lullay.

3^rd verse MEN (and a man on the melody line if its not too high):

Herod the king in his ragging, Charg-ed he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight, All young children to slay.

4^th verse: EVERYONE, followed by a repeat of the 1st verse:

Then woe is me, poor child, for thee, And ever mourn and say,
For thy parting nor say nor sing By by, lully, lullay.

Lully, lullay, though little tiny child, By by, lully lullay;
Lullay, thou little tiny child, By by, lully, lullay.

Piano:

 Bass:
 
Tenor:

 Alto:

 Soprano: