Bye, Bye Thou Tiny Child

Bye, Bye Thou Tiny Child
(Coventry Carol)

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Song Specific Liner Notes
ALBUM	NOTES
The Last Month of the Year	BYE BYE THOU LITTLE CHILD, or the Coventry Carol, appeared originally in early 1534 as part of the mystery play "The Pageant of the Shearmen and The Tailors." In one scene of the drama. Mothers of Bethlehem croon this lullaby to their tiny babies after hearing the terrible order of King Herod to slay all infants under the age of two. The tune is the earliest known version, predates by 57 years the words that were written for the pageant itself. Found all over Europe, the British Isles, and Middle Russia, the modal melody, enhanced here by the celeste, remains in a minor key but ends on the major third for an especially beautiful effect.
Other Notes of Interest
N/A	N/A

Chorus:
Bye, bye, thou little tiny child.
Bye, bye, lullee lullay.
Bye, bye, thou little tiny child.
Bye, bye, lullee lullay.

Sisters, too, how may we do for to preserve this day.
This youngling for whom we sing, bye, bye, lullee, lullay.

chorus

Herod in his raging chargeth hath he this day.
Men of might in his sight children young to slay.

chorus

Woe is me, poor Child, for thee and ev'ry morn and day.
For thy parting neither say nor sing, bye, bye, lullee, lullay.

chorus

Nick Reynolds (vocal, guitar), Bob Shane (vocal, guitar), Dave Guard (vocal, guitar), Buck Wheat (bass):


Last revised: April 18, 2006.