Greensleeves
By Traditional ← God Save the King Previous track by this artist → Johnny Fill Up the Bowl Next track by this artist.
Listen on YouTube.
Read artist commentary.
Tracks that reference Greensleeves: Tracks that reference this one:
- From Fandom: Tracks from Fandom that reference this one:
Lyrics:
Alas my love, ye do me wrong
To cast me off discourteously
And I have loved you so long
Delighting in your companyGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesI have been ready at your hand
To grant what ever you would crave
I have both waged life and land
Your love and good-will for to haveGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesI bought thee kerchers to thy head
That wre wrought fine and gallantly
I kept thee both at board and bed
Which cost my purse well favouredlyGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesI bought thee petticoats of the best
The cloth so fine as fine might be
I gave thee jewels for thy chest
And all this cost I spent on theeGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesThy smock of silk, both fair and white
With gold embroidered gorgeously
Thy petticoat of sendal right
And these I bought thee gladlyGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesThy girdle of gold so red
With pearls bedecked sumptuously
The like no other lasses had
And yet thou wouldst not love meGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesThy purse and eke thy gay gilt knows
Thy pincase gallant to the eye
No better wore the burgess' wife
And yet thou wouldst not love meGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesThy crimson stockings all of silk
With gold all wrought above the knee
Thy pumps as white as was the milk
And yet thou wouldst not love meGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesThy gown was of the grassy green
Thy sleeves of satin hanging by
Which made thee be our harvest queen
And yet thou wouldst not love meGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesThy garters fringed with the gold
And silver aglets hanging by
Which made thee blithe for to behold
And yet thou wouldst not love meGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesMy gayest gelding I thee gave
To ride wherever liked thee
No lady ever was so brave
And yet tho wouldst not love meGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesMy men were clothed all in green
And they did ever wait on thee
All this was gallant to be seen
And yet thou wouldst not love meGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesThey set thee up, they took thee down
They served thee with humility
Thy foot might not once touch the ground
And yet thou wouldst not love meGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesFor every morning when thou rose
I sent thee dainties orderly
To cheer thy stomach from all woes
And yet thou wouldst not love meGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesAnd who did pay for all this gear
That thou didst spend when pleased thee?
Even I that am rejected here
And thou disdainst to love meGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesWell I will pray to God on high
That thou my constancy mayst seen
And that yet once before I die
Thou wilt vouchsafe to love meGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady GreensleevesGreensleeves now, farewell, adieu
God I pray to prosper thee
For I am still thy lover true
Come once again and love meGreensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but Lady Greensleeves
Artist commentary:
Niklink: (wiki editor)
The first known versions of Greensleeves date from the 1580. Two versions of the ballad were registered on the same day, one as "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" and another as "Ye Ladie Greene Sleeves answere to Donkyn hir frende", but the tune certainly predates these versions and authors. There have been countless variations of the lyrics and other lyrics set to the tune, but its association with Christmas came at a later date. The provided lyrics are from the 1584 publication "A Handful of Pleasant Delights", where it was known as "A New Courtly Sonnet of the Lady Green Sleeves. To the new tune of Green Sleeves."
I've made some effort to update the spelling to modern standards, but don't blame me if some verses don't rhyme; blame the Great Vowel Shift.