by Ernest Christopher Dowson (1867 - 1900)

Oh, I would live in a dairy
Language: English 
Oh, I would live in a dairy,
 And its Colin I would be,
And many a rustic fairy
 Should churn the milk with me.

Or the fields should be my pleasure,
 And my flocks should follow me,
Piping a frolic measure
 For Joan or Marjorie.

For the town is black and weary,
 And I hate the London street;
But the country ways are cheery,
 And country lanes are sweet.

Good luck to you, Paris ladies!
 Ye are over fine and nice,
I know where the country maid is,
 Who needs not asking twice.

Ye are brave in your silks and satins,
 As ye mince about the Town;
But her feet go free in pattens,
 If she wear a russet gown.

If she be not queen nor goddess
 She shall milk my brown-eyed herds,
And the breasts beneath her bodice
 Are whiter than her curds.

So I will live in a dairy,
 And its Colin I will be,
And its Joan that I will marry,
 Or, haply, Marjorie.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Ernest Dowson, Verses, London: Leonard Smithers, 1896, pages 41-42. Dedicated to Aubrey Beardsley.


Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2010-04-24
Line count: 28
Word count: 167