Two Songs from Tennyson's "Queen Mary"

Song Cycle by Horatio William Parker (1863 - 1919)

1. Lute‑Song  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Hapless doom of woman 
  happy in betrothing,
Beauty passes like a breath
  and love is lost in loathing;
    Low! my lute: 
        Speak low, but say the world is nothing.
    Low! lute, low!

Love will hover round the flowers
  when they first awaken;
Love will fly the fallen leaf,
  and not be overtaken;
    Low, my lute! 
        O low, my lute! we fade and are forsaken.
    Low, dear lute, low!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. Milkmaid's song  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Shame upon you, Robin,
Shame upon you now!
Kiss me would you? with my hands
Milking the cow?
Daisies grow again,
Kingcups blow again,
And you came and kiss'd me milking the cow.

Robin came behind me,
Kiss'd me well I vow;
Cuff him could I? with my hands
Milking the cow?
Swallows fly again,
Cuckoos cry again,
And you came and kiss'd me milking the cow.

Come, Robin, Robin,
Come and kiss me now;
Help it can I? with my hands
Milking the cow?
Ringdoves coo again,
All things woo again.
Come behind and kiss me milking the cow!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 168