By-by, Lullaby

Words: English Traditional, 1530

Rickert cites her source as Bassus, cf. p. 22.

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), pp. 67-8.

By-by, lullaby, by-by, lullaby,
    Rocked I my child;
By-by, by-by, by-by, lullaby,
    Rocked I my child.

1. In a dream late as I lay,
Methought I heard a maiden say
    And speak these words (so) mild:
    "My little son, with thee I play,
And come," she san," by, lullaby."
    Thus rocked she her child.
By-by, lullaby, by-by, lullaby,
    Rocked I my child;
        By-by.

2. Then marvelled I right sore of this:
A maid to have a child ywis.
    "By-by, lullaby."
    Thus rocked she her child.
By-by, lullaby, by-by, lullaby,
    Rocked I my child;
By-by, by-by, by-by, lullaby,
    Rocked I my child.

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