The 15th track on 'A Present From Christmas Past'
Difficult to classify. Possibly folk, country, rock, pop...who knows?
Tobe A. Richards: Vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, bass, bouzouki, cittern, cuatro, percussion etc.
Chris Richards; Vocals
Guests:
Paul S. Baker: Vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass, autoharp, percussion etc.
Story behind the song
The story behind Coventry Carol can be traced back
to a fifteenth century pageant presented by the
Shearmen and Tailors which took place annually in the English Midlands city of the same name. These pageants were much akin to the traditional mediaeval mystery plays. Both pageant and song feature the dark Biblical story of the slaughter
of The Holy Innocents, where King Herod, fearing for his throne ordered the murder of all male infants born within the time of Jesus's birth. The words are dated back to 1534 and attributed to a Robert Croo. The melody came a little later
in 1591, but like many songs of the time, the composer or composers remain anonymous, but it's likely the writer came from within the Shearman and Tailor's troupe. The feast day for the Holy Innocents takes place on December 28th.
Lyrics
Lully lullay, thou little tiny child
By, by, lully, lullay
Thou little tiny child
By, by, lully, lullay
Oh sisters too, how may we do
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling, for whom we sing
By, by, lully, lullay
Lully lullay, thou little tiny child
By, by, lully, lullay
Thou little tiny child
By, by, lully, lullay
Herod the king, in his raging
Charg-ed he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight
All children young to slay
Lully lullay, thou little tiny child
By, by, lully, lullay
Thou little tiny child
By, by, lully, lullay
How woe is me, poor child for thee
For thy parting, nor say, nor sing
by, by, lully, lullay
Lully lullay, thou little tiny child
By, by, lully, lullay
Thou little tiny child
By, by, lully, lullay
