Coventry Carol
from the MMF! Songbook

History
Coventry Carol is a Christmas carol of haunting beauty, first appearing around 1591. It was performed as part of a Coventry play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors. The text presents the Biblical story of Herod's massacre of innocents, and a mother's anguish for her doomed child.

King Herod, troubled by the birth of his rival, and natural born King of the Jews, "slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi." Matthew 2:16 NASB

Coventry Carol is the only carol that has survived from this play.

Lyrics
Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we sing
Bye, bye, 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.

That woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And ever morn and day,
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Free Printable Sheet Music

Coventry Carol for Intermediate/Level 3 Piano Solo

Free Printable Coloring Pages

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