The words of Balalulow come from a longer 16th Century Scottish carol. I have tried, through the gentle intensity of the music, to evoke its remarkable words, which locate the meaning of the Nativity not in history or religion but in a simple kindness of heart where a room is always ready.

A lullaby, it should be sung with a gentle, rocking lilt and softly, as if sending the young child to sleep.

O my deir hert, young Jesus sweit,
Prepare thy craydil in my spreit,
And I sall rocke thee in my hert,
And never mair from thee depart.
 
But I sall pryse thee evermoir,
With sang-es sweit unto thy gloir:
The knees of my hert sall I bow
And sing that richt balulalow.