Three Airs from the Beggar's Opera

Song Cycle by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)

1. A fox may steal your hens, sir
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
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.

Text 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)

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.

Text 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)

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.
Dance and sing,
Time's on the wing,
Life never knows the return of spring.

Text 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: 205