A few years ago at Christmas time my heart was gripped by the hauntingly sad sound of the traditional Christmas carol Lully Lullay. Why such a sad song at such a joyous time of the year? I wondered if it had something to do with the sadness that plagues many people at that time of the year... missing loved ones, the passing of your life, time to reflect.
I could not get that song out of my mind, so I started a search for the story behind the song. As it turns out, it is sad indeed, and in exactly the correct season. First, let me assure you that I found similar information in several online sources. So, while I generally mistrust things I read on the internet, I believe that the sources here are in enough agreement that I believe this is a true account of the story and meaning.
The song comes from an English tradition in Coventry and some other cities in the 16th century. Some of the young priests asked if they could do plays to illustrate the Biblical stories because the services were conducted in Latin. They were allowed to do it, and the plays became more and more popular until they were moved outdoors! Eventually, the mode settled on was that the people would gather in several venues around the city and the plays were conducted on wagons. Each wagon was "owned and operated" by a guild, such as the masons, carpenters, goldsmiths and tailors. When all of the plays ended, a signal was fired and all of the wagons moved to another group of watchers! Cleaver! Everyone got to see all of the plays without moving!
Some of the wagons were very ornate and had incredible engineering such as moving platforms, rising stairs and etc. Usually the bottom level of the wagon was the dressing room, so the stage/s were on the roof. Shakespeare probably saw these plays in his youth.
As it turned out, over the centuries more and more humor made its way into the plays and that humor got to be more and more bawdy... so the church decided to put an end to it and all of the wagons, music, and scripts were lost... almost. One remaining piece was the haunting Lully Lullay.
Lully Lullay, now know as the Coventry Carol, was from a play put on by the Shearmen and Tailors about when Herod's men went through Bethlehem killing all male babies 2 years old and younger. During the song two sisters try to quiet a baby boy so that they could hide him. Alas, they fail, so the soldiers find and kill the baby. I do not know the exact sequence, but read the words below and see if you agree with this:
Verse 1,2: The sisters try to quiet and hide the baby boy.
Verse 3: The soldiers break in, find the baby and kill him.
Verse 4: The sisters mourn over the dead child.
1. Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
By, by, lully, lullay.
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child.
By, by, lully, lullay.
2. O sisters, too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day;
This poor Youngling for whom we sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.
3. Herod the King, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day;
His men of might, in his own sight,
All children young, to slay.
4. Then woe is me, poor Child, for Thee,
And ever mourn and say;
For Thy parting, nor say nor sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.
(http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/coventry_carol-1.htm , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry_Carol, http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A8378733, http://www.archive.org/stream/religiousdrama2m007883mbp/religiousdrama2m007883mbp_djvu.txt (In the introduction E. Martin Browne says that the play was not actually a part of the Coventry cycles, but this is nevertheless the traditional belief.), http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Prayers+people/1111124/story.html)
It seems so obvious now that I was embarrassed that I did not know the meaning of this song before. However, almost no one I talk to knows about it's meaning. May I always remember what incredible things God has done to pay the price for my sin. He sent his beloved son into the world that He might die so that I might be saved. I praise Him that in this time of danger the baby Jesus was saved by Joseph fleeing Bethlehem after being warned by an angle. I pray that I may be so responsive to my Lord's voice.
