The words of this carol were written by the Reverend George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934). He was an Anglican priest and prolific lyricist, penning many carols such as Ding-dong Merrily on High, Past 3 O’clock and This Joyful Eastertide.

The composer found these words in the The Cambridge Carol-Book, Being Fifty-Two Songs For Christmas, Easter And Other Seasons (1924). Our Lady Sat Within Her Bow’r tells a familiar story: the text hearkening back to the medieval picture of the Madonna, with the Rev. Woodward using many words from the 15th century: bow’r, bairn, gan, and the very well known Lalay Lula.

The music is also reflective of the period, with an easy flow of melodic lines found across every part of the choir. The rise and fall of the main motif rocks alike the cradle envisioned by the author. The whole carol will benefit from the choir allowing space around the ends of phrases.