Lynda Johnson: Listen

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00000Stephanie played the harp on this recording - I was fortunate that she was home for the summer, and also that she was willing to spend an evening with me in the studio. Lulay is a very old Christmas Carol (also called Coventry Carol) from the 1500s. This arrangement is an adaptation of the original.
00000I grew up singing "Lulay" with my family. I still want to record it with them, which is part of the reason I made this arrangement so different from the acapella version we have always done. My mother would spend all day baking, and then all of us would load up in the car and visit my parents' friends, singing Christmas carols for them in four part harmony, and of course delivering their Christmas cookies. At the time I didn't realize how lucky I was to be born into such a musical family.

LULAY

Lulay thou little tiny child
bye bye lulay lulay
lulay thou little tiny child
bye bye lulay lulay

Herod the king in his raging
charged he hath this day
his men of might in his own sight
all young children to slay

That woe is me poor child for thee
how shall I preserve this day
thou poor youngling for whom I sing
bye bye lulay lulay