Benjamin Britten: Corpus Christi Carol
(Anonymous, 15th century)
(Recital, Track 12)
He bare him up, he bare him down,
He bare him into an orchard brown.
Lully lullay, lully lullay,
The falcon hath borne my make away.
In that orchard there was an hall
That was hangèd with purple and pall,
And in that hall there was a bed.
It was hangèd with gold so red.
Lully lullay, lully lullay,
The falcon hath borne my make away.
In that bed there lieth a knight.
His woynd ës bleeding, day and night.
By that bedside kneeleth a may
And she weepeth both night and day.
Lully lullay, lully lullay,
The falcon hath borne my make away.
And by that bedside there standeth a stone,
Corpus Christi written thereon.
He bare him into an orchard brown.
Lully lullay, lully lullay,
The falcon hath borne my make away.
In that orchard there was an hall
That was hangèd with purple and pall,
And in that hall there was a bed.
It was hangèd with gold so red.
Lully lullay, lully lullay,
The falcon hath borne my make away.
In that bed there lieth a knight.
His woynd ës bleeding, day and night.
By that bedside kneeleth a may
And she weepeth both night and day.
Lully lullay, lully lullay,
The falcon hath borne my make away.
And by that bedside there standeth a stone,
Corpus Christi written thereon.
Text from CD insert.