The Corpus Christi Carol

The Corpus Christi Carol is the 7th song on The Gifts of Midwinter, the Christmas CD by Ken and Lisa Theriot.  The song is originally associated not with Christmas, but a very different time of the year in the church calendar.  Here is a clip from the song as recorded on The Gifts of Midwinter, followed by the liner notes summary and lyrics.

[audio:https://www.ravenboymusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Lullyclip.mp3|titles=The Corpus Christi Carol]

Lully, Lulley
(The Corpus Christi Carol)
Hill Manuscript, circa 1500

Though it developed into the Christmas Carol “Down in
Yon Forest” this carol was originally from the Feast of
Corpus Christi. We learned the tune from Archie Fisher,
who got it from Robin Hall, who…

Chorus: Lully, lulley, lully, lulley!
The falcon hath borne my make away.

He bare him up, he bare him down,
He bare him into an orchard brown.

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.

And in that bed there lieth a knight
His wounds bleeding day and night.

By that bed there kneels a may
And she weeps both night and day.

And by that bed there stands a stone
‘Corpus Christi’ writ thereon.

Arranged by Ken and Lisa Theriot
© 2010 Raven Boy Music