by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

A pretty duck there was that said
Language: English 
A pretty duck there was that said,
   To whom shall I make moan?
I have been long a pretty maid,
And yet I lie alone.

Alone I lie in deep despair, 
   Which kills my lovely heart, 
For none will my sweet joys repair, 
Or play a lover’s part.

A tickling part that maidens love, 
   But I can never get, 
Yet long have sought, and still do crave, 
At rest my heart to set.

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by John Bartlet (flourished 1606-1610), "A pretty duck there was that said", published 1606 [ vocal quartet for soprano, alto, tenor, bass with lute ], from A booke of Ayres with a Triplicitie of Musicke, no. 9, Confirmed with A booke of Ayres with a Triplicitie of Musicke by John Bartlet, Printed by John Windet, for John Browne and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstan's Churchyard in Fleet Street, London 1606. [sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2024-11-21
Line count: 12
Word count: 73