A fox may steal your hens, sir, A whore your health and pence, sir, Your daughter may rob your chest, sir, Your wife may steal your rest, sir, A thief your goods and plate. But this is all but picking, With rest, pence, chest, and chicken; It ever was decreed, sir, If Lawyer's hand is fee'd, sir, He steals your whole estate.
Three Airs from the Beggar's Opera
Song Cycle by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)
1. A fox may steal your hens, sir  [sung text checked 1 time]
Language: English
Authorship:
- by John Gay (1685 - 1732), no title, Air XI from The Beggar's Opera, first published 1728
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. If the heart of a man  [sung text checked 1 time]
Language: English
If the heart of a man is deprest with cares, The mist is dispell'd when a woman appears; Like the notes of a fiddle, she sweetly, sweetly Raises the spirits, and charms our ears. Roses and lillies her cheeks disclose, But her ripe lips are more sweet than those. Press her, Caress her, With blisses, Her kisses Dissolve us in pleasure, and soft repose.
Authorship:
- by John Gay (1685 - 1732), Air XXI from The Beggar's Opera, first published 1728
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. Youth's the season made for joys  [sung text checked 1 time]
Language: English
Youth's the season made for joys; Love is then our duty. She alone who that employs Well deserves her beauty. Let's be gay while we may Drink and sport yet today; Let's be gay while we may, Beauty's a flow'r despis'd in decay. Let us drink and sport today; Ours is not tomorrow. Love with youth flies swift away, Age is naught but sorrow. [Let's be gay, Dance and sing; Let's be gay, Time's on the wing,]1 Dance and sing, Time's on the wing, Life never knows the return of spring.
Authorship:
- by John Gay (1685 - 1732), Air XXII from The Beggar's Opera, first published 1728
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 217