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by William Smyth (1765 - 1849)

The sweetest lad was Jamie
 (Sung text for setting by L. Beethoven)
 See original
Language: English 
Our translations:  FRE
The sweetest lad was Jamie,
  The sweetest, the dearest;
And well did Jamie love me,
  And not a fault has he.
Yet one he had, it spoke his praise,
He knew not woman's wish to teaze,
He knew not all our silly ways,
  Alas! The woe to me!

For though I loved my Jamie
  Sincerely and dearly,
Yet, often when he woo'd me,
  I held my head on high;
And huffed and tossed with saucy air,
And danced with Donald at the fair,
And placed his ribbon in my hair,
  And Jamie, -- passed him by.

So, when the war-pipes sounded,
  Dear Jamie he left me,
And now some other maiden
  Will Jamie turn to woo.
My heart will break, and well it may,
For who would word of pity say
To her who threw a heart away,
  So faithful and so true?

Oh! Knew he how I loved him,
  Sincerely and dearly!
And I would fly to meet him,
  Oh! happy were the day!
Some kind, kind friend, oh! come between,
And tell him of my altered mien!
That Jeanie has not Jeanie been
  Since Jamie went away!
Confirmed with William Smyth, English Lyrics, London, William Pickering, 1850, pages 165-166.

Composition:

    Set to music by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "The sweetest lad was Jamie", op. 108 (25 schottische Lieder mit Begleitung von Pianoforte, Violine und Violoncello) no. 5 (1815) [ voice, violin, violoncello, piano ]

Text Authorship:

  • by William Smyth (1765 - 1849), "Ballad", subtitle: "Scotch"

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le plus doux garçon était Jamie", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GER German (Deutsch) (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "Der schönste Bub war Henny, der schönste, der beste!"


Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani

This text was added to the website: 2004-08-18
Line count: 32
Word count: 188

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