ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Coventry Carol

The Coventry Carol is an old song that tells a sad story about mothers and babies.

A long time ago, when a king named Herod was ruling over the land where the song was popular, he feared that a new baby would take his place as king. So he ordered that all the baby boys be killed, even if they were just newborns.

The song tells the story of the mothers who had to give up their babies to save their lives. They sang the Coventry Carol to their children before they were taken away, knowing that they would never see them again.

The song is slow and sad, like a lullaby, with words that describe the sadness and pain the mothers felt. It's often sung during Christmas time to remember the babies who were lost because of King Herod's fear.

Even though it's sad, the Coventry Carol is still a beautiful song that reminds us of the love between a mother and her child.