Looking for a certain Christmas song

[markv]

Hope you all can give me a hand with a title for a song. It's a christmas song (yes it has words) that I heard on NPR last year and promptly forgot the title. It is written as if Mary is singing a lullaby to the Christ child. The version I heard had a whistle jump in occasionally with the chorus. Any ideas appreciated. I'm pretty sure it was a traditional Irish or English piece but may be wrong.

Thanks,

Mark V.

[WyoBadger]

Sounds like maybe the Coventry Carol? It's a sixteenth century English tune, and it sounds VERY nice on a whistle, high or low.

Lullay, thou little tiny child;
by, by, lully lullay
Lullay thou little tiny child
by by lully, lullay

O sisters, too, how may we do,
for to preserve this day,
this poor youngling for whom we sing?
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.

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

Hope this helps. Good luck.
Tom



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: WyoBadger on 2001-12-05 12:15 ]</font>

[Feadan]

It sounds like you are talking about "The Wexford Lullaby" by John Renbourn. The version on his recording "The Traveller's Prayer" is a brilliant a capella version sung by Mairead NiDhomnaill backed up by the Voice Squad. I think that that Canadian prima donna harp player who I don't care for and whose name escapes me for the moment has done it as well. Oh yeah...Loreena "every cut sounds the same" McKennit. Maybe it was her version that you heard on NPR. The melody is from the Wexford Carol (aka Good People All).



Wexford Lullaby
by John Renbourn


Lullay, lullay, my tiny child
Too soon you’ll know the world so wild
Yes, all too soon you will be grown
And I’ll bide here alone, alone.
The rushing bellows you shall ride.
And the light of the north star will be your guide
But yet awhile I’ll have you stay
Lullay, my tiny child, lullay

For you shall run in meadows green
And sport with otters all in the stream
And you shall chase the dapple deer
And swim with salmon in the waters clear
To pluck the small birds from the sky
On the tail of the south wind you shall fly
And take the high hills for your own
Bloood of my blood, bone of my bone

The moon must sleep beyond the tree
So weep sweet maid of Galilee
The sun must rise before the cross
To dry your tears and share your loss
The darkest hour of the starless night
Must bow to the power of the eastern light
That heals the earth and makes us whole
Heart of my heart, soul of my soul

And when at last your course is run
Joy of my joy, my little son
Beneath the sky you’ll stand alone
Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone
Yes you shall stand on the coal black sands
To cross o’er the waters of the western lands
But now I have you at my breast
Lullay my sweet one gently rest.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Feadan on 2001-12-05 13:33 ]</font>

[DuaneMurphy]

I wonder if the song you heard could have been the Christ Child Lullaby. Kathy Mattea (country artist) has recorded it and played in on a television Christmas special a couple of years ago. I have also heard it on a number of other celtic Christmas CD's. I believe its origin is scottish. It has a beautiful modal melody that I fell in love with the first time I heard it, and the words of Mary to her baby Jesus are very touching. The words in English are approximately as follows,

My love, my treasured one are You,
My sweet and lovely son are You,
You are my love, my darling, You,
Unworthy I love You.

[chorus] Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia.

Your mild and gentle eyes proclaim,
The loving heart with which you came,
A tender helpless tiny babe,
With boundless gifts of grace.

King of kings, most holy one,
God and Son, eternal One,
You are my God and helpless son,
High ruler of mankind.

The melody is approximately as follows.
Key = A myxolydian, Time sig = 3/4

A|A A|edc|d e|c A|
|c A|Be |c e|G G|
|A A|edc|d e|c A|
|AE |G A|A |A |