Universalis

Saturday 17 January 2009

Sing lullaby!

This is our last day for Christmas carols, and here we have a lovely carol which moves us on our way from the stable at Bethlehem to the hill of Calvary and the Easter garden.



Sing lullaby!
Lullaby baby, now reclining,
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the Infant King.
Angels are watching, stars are shining
Over the place where he is lying.
Sing lullaby!

Sing lullaby!
Lullaby baby, now a-sleeping,
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the Infant King.
Soon will come sorrow with the morning,
Soon will come bitter grief and weeping:
Sing lullaby!

Sing lullaby!
Lullaby baby, now a-dozing,
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the Infant King.
Soon comes the cross, the nails, the piercing,
Then in the grave at last reposing:
Sing lullaby!

Sing lullaby!
Lullaby! is the babe a-waking?
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not stir the Infant King.
Dreaming of Easter, gladsome morning,
Conquering Death, its bondage breaking:
Sing lullaby!


Tomorrow we shall start a series of eight posts to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

3 comments:

Edbowie said...

Set to music by Herbert Howells. One of his mots exquisite and beautiful creations.

Peter Simpson said...

I have to confess that I have never come across this particular setting - though of course he wrote a vast quantity of music - both sacred and secular.

Anonymous said...

This is a paraphrased translation of an ancient Basque carol by Sabine Baring-Gould and usually sung to the tune "Infant King" arranged by E. Pettman