The Rocking Carol

Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst

The carol was first published in an anthology in 1920 in Czechoslovakia, where it was described as a traditional Czech carol.[1] It was loosely translated into English by Percy Dearmer,[1] as part of his effort of resurrecting hymns that had fallen into disuse and introducing European hymns into the Church of England.[1] The carol is sung in the form of a lullaby to Jesus while rocking the manger as if it were a more modern cradle,[4] as noted by the repetitive chorus of "We will rock you".[5][6] It was first published in The Oxford Book of Carols, which Dearmer had edited alongside Martin Shaw and Ralph Vaughan Williams, in 1928.[1]

After initial publication, the carol gradually decreased in popularity until the 1960s when the English actress Julie Andrews performed a commercially released version of it.[7] Following this, it was published in Carols for Choirs by David Willcocks and John Rutter.[3]

"The Rocking Carol" consists of two verses with eight lines each.[8] It is performed with a 10.7.8.8.7.7 metre.[2] The hymn continues to be published within Church of England and Anglican hymnals.[6] The hymn has been described as the quintessential lullaby carol compared with similar wording lullaby Christmas carols of "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger" as hymnologists opine that the lyrics and melody both strongly suggest the rocking of a cradle.[4]

After publication, the final line of the carol met with dissatisfaction, with a number of hymnal editors altering it from "Darling, darling little man" to "Son of God and Son of Man".[1] Critics of "The Rocking Carol" have argued that it has only minor Biblical references and is written without theological context and historical precision.[9]