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by William Cullen Crookshank

Once I loved thee, Mary dear
Language: English 
Once I loved thee, Mary dear,
O how truly!
As the dewdrop bright and clear,
Born but newly,
Sparkling in the solar rays,
To the rosebud's beauty, pays
Tribute duly,
Tribute duly.

Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O how truly!
Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O now truly!

I loved thee, when in early youth
Lovely ever
Virtuous pride and honest truth
Ne'er could sever,
And thy heart was pure and bright
As the early morning's light,
Sinning never,
Sinning never.

Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O how truly!
Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O how truly!

Once I loved thee, Mary dear
Still, God bless thee!
May ever blissful prospects cheer
And joy caress thee;
Though I drain my cups apart,
May, liek mine, a saddened heart
Ne'ever distress thee
Ne'ever distress thee.

Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O how truly!
Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O how truly!

Youth will fleet, and age will come,
Slowly, slowly;
Death will beat its muffled drum,
Lowly, lowly;
May the passing moments roll
Bliss eternal to thy soul,
Holy, holy,
Holy, holy.

Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O how truly!
Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O how truly!

Text Authorship:

  • by William Cullen Crookshank  [author's text not yet checked 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 Stephen Collins Foster (1826 - 1864), "Once I loved thee, Mary dear", published 1851. [voice and piano] [
     text verified 1 time
    ]

Researcher for this page: Laura Prichard [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2015-12-26
Line count: 40
Word count: 205

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