Advent Calendar – 18th December, 2021 – Sing Lullaby
Merry Christmas!
Danielle and Dave’s Advent Calendar, 2021
18th December, 2021
Sing Lullaby
old Basque Carol
freely translated words – S Baring-Gould (1834-1924)
This carol, subtitled ‘The Infant King’ was found in a volume published by Charles Bordes called ‘Douze Noels Populaires ‘(Paris, 1895).
The Basque title was ‘Oi Betleem’. The translation by Baring-Gould was first published in 1925 in The University Carol Book, ‘Parts I and II combined’.
The freedom of Baring-Gould’s translation means that he was able to reference Christ’s Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection and I have tried to highlight these references through choices of harmony in the arrangement I have made here.
1
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!
2
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!
3
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!
4
Sing lullaby!
Lullaby! is the baby awaking?
sing lullaby.
Hush, do not stir the infant king.
Dreaming of Easter, gladsome morning,
conquering death, its bondage breaking:
sing lullaby!
Recorded on: David Concert Harp c2000
https://hymnary.org/text/sing_lullaby
https://hymnology.hymnsam.co.uk/s/sing-lullaby!-lullaby-baby,-now-reclining