Down by the River
Language: English
Down by the river there grows a green willow, Sing oh! for my true love, my true love, oh! I'll weep out the night there, the bank for my pillow, And all for my true love, my true love, oh! When chill blows the wind, and tempests are beating, I'll count all the clouds as I mark them retreating, For true lovers' joys, well-a-day, are as fleeting, Sing all for my true love, my true love, oh! Maids come in pity when I am departed, Sing oh! for my true love, my true love, oh! When dead on the bank I am found broken hearted, And all for my true love, my true love, oh! Make me a grave, all while the wind's blowing, Close to the stream where my tears once were flowing, And over my corpse keep the green willow growing, 'Tis all for my true love, my true love, oh!
Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , from Sussex [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by John Theodore Livingston Raynor (1909 - 1970), "Down by the River", op. 567 (1960), published 1971 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by John Theodore Livingston Raynor (1909 - 1970), "Down By The River", op. 624 (1962) [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Ken Edensor
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 153