Now the winter is gone and the summer is...
Language: English
Now the winter is gone and the summer is come And the meadows look pleasant and gay I met a young damsel so sweetly sang she And her cheeks like the blossoms of May I says: Fair maiden, how came you here In the meadows this morning so soon? The maid she replied: For to gather some may For the trees they are all in full bloom. I says: Fair maiden, shall I go with you To the meadows to gather some may? O the maid she replied: O I must be excused For I’m afeared you will lead me astray. Then I took this fair maid by her lily-white hand On the green mossy banks we sat down And I placed a kiss on her sweet rosy lips And the small birds were singing all round. When we arose from the green mossy banks To the meadows we wandered away; I placed my love on a primrosy bank And I plucked her a handful of may. When I returned she gave me a smile And thanked me for what I had done. I placed a sprig on her snowy-white breast And believe me there’s never a thorn. Then early next morning I made her my bride That the world should have nothing to say. The bells they did ring and the bridesmaids did sing And I crowned her the sweet Queen of May.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Maud Karpeles, Cecil Sharp's Collection of English Folk Songs, Oxford University Press, 1974, pages 377-378. Sung by Shepherd Haden at Bampton, Oxfordshire, September 11, 1909.
Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Queen of the May" [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 Imogen Clare Holst (1907 - 1984), "Now the winter is gone", 1934, published 1936 [ 2 sopranos and piano ], from Four Oxfordshire Folk Songs, no. 2, Novello [sung text not yet checked]
Set in a modified version by Gardner Read.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2022-06-15
Line count: 28
Word count: 234