by Helen Taylor (1876 - 1943)
None‑so‑pretty
Language: English
Mistress Molly rose up one day, (None so pretty, oh, none so fair), Dressed herself in her fine array, Cap and kirtle and all, oh! Mistress Molly went down the street, (None so pretty, oh, none so neat), When sturdy William she chanced for to meet, With hose and jerkin and all, oh! Honest William he blushed and sighed: "None so pretty, oh, none so fair, I'm from the country to find me a bride, Wi'rings and posies and all, oh!" Mistress Molly she then did say (None so pretty, oh, none so gay) "Yonder's the church across the way, Clerk and parson and all, oh!" Bells are ringing in London town, (None so pretty, oh, none so fair), Give the ringers a silver crown, Sexton, bellman and all, oh! Haste to the wedding from far and wide, None so pretty as London pride, A health to the groom and a kiss for the bride, And fun and frolic for all, oh!
Text Authorship:
- by Helen Taylor (1876 - 1943) [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 Mary Hannah (May) Brahe (1884 - 1956), "None-so-pretty", published 1924 [ voice and piano ], London : Enoch & Sons ; Melbourne : Allan & Co; arranged from the duet from the song-cycle for four voices 'A pageant of summer' [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-07-29
Line count: 24
Word count: 162