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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)

This have I done for my true love
 (Sung text for setting by G. Holst)
 Matches base text
Language: English 
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day,
I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my plays, 
To call my true love to the dance.
Sing oh my love, oh my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.

Then was I born of a Virgin pure,
Of her I took fleshly substance:
Then was I knit to man's nature,
To call my true love to my dance.
Sing oh my love, oh my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.

In a manger laid and wrapp'd I was,
So very poor this was my chance,
Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass,
To call my true love to the dance.
Sing oh my love, oh my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.

Then afterwards baptised I was,
The Holy Ghost on me did glance,
My Father's voice heard from above,
To call my true love to my dance.
Sing oh my love, oh my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.

Into the desert I was led,
Where I fasted without substance:
The Devil bade me make stones my bread,
To have me break my true love's dance.
Sing oh my love, oh my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.

The Jews on me they made great suit,
And with me made great variance,
Because they loved darkness better than light,
To call my true love to the dance.
Sing oh, sing oh my love.

For thirty pence Judas me sold,
His covetousness for to advance;
Mark whom I kiss, the same do hold,
The same is he shall lead the dance.
Sing oh my love, my love.

Before Pilate the Jews me brought,
When Barabbas had deliverance;
They scourged me and set me at nought,
Judged me to die to lead the dance.
Sing oh my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.

When on the cross hanged I was;
When a spear to my heart did glance,
There issued forth both water and blood,
To call my true love to the dance.
Sing oh my love, oh my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.

Then down to Hell I took my way,
For my true love's deliverance,
And rose again on the third day,
Up to my true love and the dance,
Sing oh my love, oh my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.

Then up to Heav'n I did ascend,
Where now I dwell in sure substance,
On the right hand of God
That man may come into the general dance.
Sing oh my love, oh my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.

Composition:

    Set to music by Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934), "This have I done for my true love", op. 34 no. 1, H. 128 [ chorus ], partsong

Text Authorship:

  • from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , a Cornish carol from Sandys, Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern, first published 1833

See other settings of this text.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 64
Word count: 490

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