☝️ Key Points
- The song tells the sad story of the massacre of children in Bethlehem
- It emphasizes the love and care for the child
- It reminds us of the importance of caring for the weak and innocent
Interpretation
The Coventry Carol is a traditional English Christmas carol sung by
Anne Murray. The lyrics tell the sad story of the Massacre of the Innocents in Bethlehem, as described in the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible.
The song begins with a lullaby melody dedicated to a little child. The words 'Lullaby, thou little tiny child' show the tenderness and love given to the child. It is a gentle way to lull the child to sleep.
Then, the focus shifts to the sisters of the child. They worry about the child and wonder what they can do to protect it on this day. They know that Herod, the king at that time, has ordered that all young children be killed. The sisters sing with sadness in their voices and hope to be able to save the child.
The lyrics also tell about Herod, the king who gave this cruel order. His men were instructed to kill all young children. One can imagine how terrible and tragic this situation must have been.
The song ends with a sad expression of regret: 'Then woe is me, poor child for thee, And ever mourn and say, For thy parting not say, nor sing, Bye, bye lullay, lullay.' Here, the lyrics express the sadness and pain of the child having to die and how painful it is to say goodbye to him.
Overall, The Coventry Carol is a song that tells the sad story of the Massacre of the Innocents in Bethlehem while also emphasizing the love and care for the child. It reminds us of the importance of caring for the weak and innocent in our society and standing up for them.