Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: new-age
Song Meaning of “Coventry Carol” by David Lanz
The ‘Coventry Carol’, written by David Lanz, is a sorrowful and heartbreaking song that poignantly tells of a darker segment of human history; specifically, the Coventry Massacre of 16th century England. The haunting melody of the track serves to further heighten the tragedy of the subject material, as the mother’s pleading and desperation unfold through both the lyrics and the instrumentation.
The song begins with a grandmother’s desperate plea to the government, imploring them to spare her children despite the violence that has been brought upon her small town. In each verse, her voice rings out against the steadfast government, as she fearfully acknowledges the inevitability of their fate unless they are saved by a miracle. The simple yet powerful vocals illustrate the mother’s fear and despair, as she painfully awaits her children’s fate.
The instrumentation on the track is equally as sorrowful and bleak as the lyrics, with gentle strings and peaceful piano intertwining to represent the mother’s hope and resilience. Even as the lyrics seem to indicate despair and hopelessness, the soothing and calming music carries the listener through the track with a sense of peace and acceptance.
In the end, ‘Coventry Carol’ is a song that moves the spirit and stays with the listener well after it has been sung.