Greensleeves

Engelsk folkemelodi - Tekst: Ukendt

Alas, my love, you do me wrong
to cast me off 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 my lady Greensleeves.

I have been ready at your band,
to grant whatever you would crave;
I have both waged lire and land,
your love and good will for to have.
Greensleeves was all my joy...

I bought thee kerchers to thy head,
that were wrought fine and gallantly;
I kept thee both at board and bed,
which cost my purse well favouredly.
Greensleeves was all my joy...

I 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 thee.
Greensleeves was all my joy...

Thy girdle of gold so red,
with pearls bedeeked sumptuously;
the like no other lasses had,
and yet thou wouldest not love me.
Greensleeves was all my joy...

Thy crimson stocking, all of silk,
with gold all wrought above the knee;
thy pumps, as white as was the milk;
and yet thou wouldst not love me.
Greensleeves was all my joy...

Thy gown was of the grassy green,
thy sleeves of satin hanging by,
which made thee be om harvest queen;
and yet thou wouldst not love me.
Greensleeves was all my joy...

Thy garters fringed with the gold,
and silver aglets hanging by,
which made thee blithe for to behold;
and yet thou wouldst not love me.
Greensleeves was all my joy...

Thou couldst desire no earthly thing,
but still thou hadst it readily:
Thy music still to play and sing;
and yet thou wouldst not love me.
Greensleeves was all my joy...

And who did pay for all this gear,
that thou didst spend when pleased thee?
Even I that am rejected here;
and thou disdainest to love me.
Greensleeves was all my joy...

Well, I will pray to God on high,
that thou my constancy may'si see;
for I am still thy lover true;
come once again, and love me.
Greensleeves was all my joy...

Gammel engelsk folkemelodi fra 1500-tallet, anvendt i Vaughan Williams' opera "Sir John In Love" fra 1929.