Lully, Lulla, Lullay
From Fr. John Zulsdorf ( wdtprs.com/blog ): I have written about the breath-taking, throat-choking, eye-blurring composition of Philip Stopford, “Lully, Lulla, Lullay”. This is the “Conventry Carol” about the Holy Innocents, a carol in some ways so heart-piercing that it seems out of step with Christmastide, except that the joyous season embraces also Childermas, and that the wood of the crib foretells the wood of the Cross. The words of this lullaby of perfect pain are: 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 do sing Bye, bye, lully, lullay. Herod, the king, in his raging, Charged he hath this day His men of might, in his owne sight, All young children to slay. That woe is me, poor Child for Thee! And ever mourn and sigh, For thy parting neither say nor sing, Bye, bye, lully, lullay. A