For Epiphany: O balow, balow la lay

 

From the YouTube page:

The Choir of Wells Cathedral, Somerset, under the direction of Matthew Owens, perform Jonathan Dove's setting of Dorothy L. Sayers' poem 'The Three Kings.' Commissioned by King's College, Cambridge for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve 2000. Treble solos by Folasade-Nelleke Ladipo and Sophie Gallagher.

"Sayers portrays her three kings in the three ages of man—young, in the prime of life, and very old. With perhaps an unexpected twist and a departure from received imagery Sayers portrays the young king as doleful and bringing myrrh; the prime-of-life king is a solemn priest who brings incense, 'sad and sweet', and it is the very old king who brings the handfuls of gold which are not money but gaud, baubles and glittering toys for a baby boy."

Text:

The first king was very young,

O balow, balow la lay,
With doleful ballads on his tongue,
O balow, balow la lay,
He came bearing a branch of myrrh

Than which no gall is bitterer,
O balow, balow la lay,
Gifts for a baby King, O.

The second king was a man in prime,
O balow, balow la lay,

The solemn priest of a solemn time,
O balow, balow la lay,
With eyes downcast and reverent feet
He brought his incense sad and sweet,

O balow, balow la lay,
Gifts for a baby King, O.

The third king was very old,
O balow, balow la lay,
Both his hands were full of gold,
O balow, balow la lay,
Many a gaud and glittering toy,

Baubles brave for a baby boy,

O balow, balow la lay,

Gifts for a baby King, O.