Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
There was an old man lived out in the wood, And his trade was a-cutting of broom, green broom, He had but one son without thought without good Who lay in his bed till 't was noon, bright noon. The old man awoke one morning and spoke, He swore he would fire the room, that room, If his John would not rise and open his eyes, And away to the wood to cut broom, green broom. So Johnny arose and slipp'd on his clothes And away to the wood to cut broom, green broom, He sharpen'd his knives, and for once he contrives To cut a great bundle of broom, green broom. When Johnny pass'd under a Lady's fine house, Pass'd under a Lady's fine room, fine room, She call'd to her maid: "Go fetch me," she said, "Go fetch me the boy that sells broom, green broom!" When Johnny came into the Lady's fine house, And stood in the Lady's fine room, fine room, "Young Johnny" she said, "Will you give up your trade And marry a lady in bloom, full bloom?" Johnny gave his consent, and to church they both went, And he wedded the Lady in bloom, full bloom; At market and fair, all folks do declare, There's none like the Boy that sold broom, green broom.
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [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 (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "The Ballad of Green Broom", 1950, from Five Flower Songs, no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "La balada de la ginesta verda", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Wijtse Rodenburg) , "Brem, groene Brem...", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Die Ballade vom Besenginster", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 220
Er woonde een man ergens diep in 't bos voor de kost sneed hij Brem, groene Brem... Hij had maar een zoon, 'n nietsnut gewoon... die lag in z'n bed heel de dag, heel de dag... De man, op 'n morgen, werd wakker vol zorgen... de fik gaat er in, verhief hij z'n stem, luide stem... als zijn John nu niet opstaat en eind'lijk op weg gaat naar 't bos om te snijden de Brem, groene Brem... Dus John uit de veren, en gleed in z'n kleren en naar het bos om te snijden de Brem, groene Brem... Met z'n messen geslepen, klaar lukte 't hem zowaar te snijden een bundel met Brem, groene Brem... Zo passeerde die Johnny 't huis van een deftige dame.. liep langs de statige ramen, van die deftige dame, die riep naar haar meid: "Zeg breng hem naar mij, breng me dat jong met de Brem, groene Brem... hé, breng me dat jong!"... Zo kwam Johnny in 't huis van de dame, hij stond in 't boudoir van de dame, de deftige dame... "Johnny, jongen", zei ze, "Wil jij je baan eraan geven en trouwen met 'n dame in de bloei van d'r leven?".... Johnny vond 't wel best, in de kerk ging de rest... Hij trouwde de dame in de bloei van haar leven: En op markten en feesten, daar weten de meesten: er gaat niets boven dat joch; met z'n Brem, groene Brem...
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © by Wijtse Rodenburg, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 240