“Coventry Carol” by Vanessa Joy dates back to the 16th Century. It is an English Christmas Carol who’s author is unknown. “Coventry Carol” is on the album “Joy To the World” and can be found here or you can listen to it here in Vanessa Joy’s store or here on youtube.
The piano accompaniment was arranged by Marvin Goldstein the tempo is slow, delicately and soothing with slight sadness. There is a soft haunting feeling in this lullaby. I hope you enjoy the song.
It’s hauntingly beautiful melody along with the lyric that talks about Herod the King initiating the massacre in hopes to kill baby Jesus. The song brings such a sadness of what times were like as King Herod sought to take away the lives of innocent children. I remember as a child viewing the photograph of the painting by Peter Paul Rubens in our family Bible. The weeping and wailing women and children being ripped from their arms was a ghastly sight to behold. I shuddered to think of the women in that day, and yet recognizing how truly remarkable it was that Joseph was warned in the night to flee to Egypt with the baby Jesus and they were saved from such a massacre of despair. If only all of the women and children in that town were warned, and maybe some were, we don’t know all the details of course. Yet as I sing this carol, I do remember that frightful sight I beheld as a child and my thoughts were on Joseph heeding the warning.
Do we recognize the warning signs in our life? Do we follow the Spirit and His warning whispers? I pray we all do. Please share with me, any promptings you have obeyed and have followed in your life. How has it blessed you to follow the Holy Ghost? I’d love to hear your examples. I pray as we all go forward that we will listen to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, let him guide you as you find ways to serve others this Christmas.
I am so grateful for this time of year for the Holy Spirit in my life to lead and direct my path. I hope this music blesses your life and brings you comfort. God loves you. He sent His Son to earth to teach us. God gave us the power of the Holy Ghost. Live your life and heed his promptings. As you play this song, let it fill your heart with love. Let Christmas music bless your life.
