Christ Child Lullaby

“Christ Child Lullaby” – Barry Phillips
From the recording: Colonial Christmas
Recorded and Produced by Barry Phillips (2008).
Publishing: Gourd Music (BMI) /Koustic Music (BMI)

Sarah-Jane Summers: fiddle
Jesse Autumn: double harp
Neal Hellman: mountain dulcimer
Barry Phillips: cello.

“Christ Child Lullaby” – Traditional Hebrides
This is said to be a very old Scottish tune from the Hebrides; lyrics were added later, when it became known as “Christ Child Lullaby.” Barry has used both the older “pipe” version and the more modern scale-wise version of the melody. Scottish fiddler Sarah-Jane Summers leads the tune.

The hymn “Christ Child Lullaby” was written by Father Ranald Rankin in about 1855 and is sung at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve on Barra, South Uist and Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides. It was written in Scottish Gaelic and originally had 29 verses. There are now many other versions of it in Gaelic and English.

From the page: Omniglot

“Christ Child Lullaby”
My love, my pride, my treasure, O
My wonder new and pleasure, O
My son, my beauty, ever You
Who am I to bear You here?

The cause of talk and tale am I
The cause of greatest fame am I
The cause of proudest care on high
To have for mine, the king of all

And though You are the king of all
They sent You to the manger stall
Where at Your feet they all shall fall
And glorify my child the king

There shone a star above three kings,
To guide them to the king of kings.
They held You in their humble arms
And knelt before You until dawn.

They gave You myrrh they gave You gold
Frankincense and gifts untold
They traveled far these gifts to bring,
And glorify their newborn king.

My love, my pride, my treasure, O
My wonder new and pleasure, O
My son, my beauty, ever You
Who am I to bear You here?