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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

I wish I were where Helen lies
Language: English 
I wish I were where Helen lies;
Night and day on me she cries;
Oh that I were where Helen lies
    On fair Kirconnell lea!
  
Curst be the heart that thought the thought,
And curst the hand that fired the shot,
When in my arms [burd]1 Helen dropt,
    And died to succour me!
  
O think na but my heart was sair
When my Love dropt down and spak nae mair!
I laid her down wi' meikle care
    On fair Kirconnell lea.
  
As I went down the water-side,
None but my foe to be my guide,
None but my foe to be my guide,
    On fair Kirconnell lea;
  
I lighted down my sword to draw,
I hackèd him in pieces sma',
I hackèd him in pieces sma',
    For her sake that died for me.
  
O Helen fair, beyond compare,
I'll make a garland of thy hair
Shall bind my heart for evermair
    Until the day I die.
  
Oh that I were where Helen lies!
Night and day on me she cries;
Out of my bed she bids me rise,
    Says, "Haste and come to me!"
  
O Helen fair! O Helen chaste!
If I were with thee I were blest,
Where thou lies low and takes thy rest
    On fair Kirconnell lea.
  
I wish my grave were growing green,
A winding-sheet drawn ower my een,
And I in Helen's arms lyíng,
    On fair Kirconnell lea.
  
I wish I were where Helen lies;
Night and day on me she cries;
And I am weary of the skies,
    Since my Love died for me.

Available sung texts:   ← What is this?

•   C. Scott 

C. Scott sets stanzas 1-2, 4-7

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)
Taken from Francis T. Palgrave, ed. (1824--1897). The Golden Treasury. 1875. Note: Helen is identified in some places with Helen Irving
1 "burd" means "maid"

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, "Fair Helen" [author's text checked 1 time 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 Cyril Meir Scott (1879 - 1970), "Ballad of Fair Helen of Kirkonnel", op. 8 (1900), first performed 1905, stanzas 1-2,4-7 [baritone and orchestra], London: Elkin [ sung text checked 1 time]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in English, [adaptation] ; composed by Joseph Haydn.
      • Go to the text.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2011-03-06
Line count: 40
Word count: 261

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