Words: Traditional

Alas, my love, you do me wrong, To cast me off so discourteously;/ And I have loved you so long, delighting in your company./ Greensleeves was all my joy, Greensleeves was my delight./ Greensleeves was my heart of gold, And who but Lady Greensleeves.

I have been ready at your hand,/ To grant whatever you would crave;/ I have both wage'd life and land,/ Your love and good will for to have./ Chorus

I bought thee kerchiefs to thy head,/ That were wrought fine and gallantly;/ I kept thee both at board and bed,/ Which cost my purse well favour'dly./ Chorus

I bought thee petticoats of the best,/ The cloth so fine as might be;/ I gave thee jewels for thy chest,/ And all this cost I spent on thee./ Chorus

My men were clothe'd all in green,/ And they did ever wait on thee;/ All this was gallant to be seen,/ And yet thou would'st not love me./ Chorus

They set thee up, they took thee down,/ They served thee with humility;/ Thy foot might not once touch the ground,/ And yet thou would'st not love me./ Chorus

Well I will pray to God on high,/ That thou my constancy may'st see;/ And that yet once before I die,/ Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me./ Chorus

Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu,/ God I pray to prosper thee;/ For I am still thy lover true,/ Come once again and love me./ Chorus

Appleby, Amy, America's All-Time Favorite Songs, AMSCO PUBLICATIONS, New York 1991, pp14-15

Music: Traditional; 72-ET Harmony by Rick Tagawa

return to SONGS

return to 72note.com