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by George Wither (1588 - 1667)

I loved a lass, a fair one
Language: English 
I loved a lass, a fair one,
  As fair as e'er was seen;
She was indeed a rare one,
  Another Sheba Queen:
But, fool as then I was,
  I thought she loved me too:
But now, alas! she 's left me,
  Falero, lero, loo!
 
Her hair like gold did glister,
  Each eye was like a star,
She did surpass her sister,
  Which pass'd all others far;
She would me honey call,
  She'd -- O she'd kiss me too!
But now, alas! she 's left me,
  Falero, lero, loo!
 
Many a merry meeting
  My love and I have had;
She was my only sweeting,
  She made my heart full glad;
The tears stood in her eyes
  Like to the morning dew:
But now, alas! she 's left me,
  Falero, lero, loo!
 
Her cheeks were like the cherry,
  Her skin was white as snow;
When she was blithe and merry
  She angel-like did show;
Her waist exceeding small,
  The fives did fit her shoe:
But now, alas! she 's left me,
  Falero, lero, loo!
 
In summer time or winter
  She had her heart's desire;
I still did scorn to stint her
  From sugar, sack, or fire;
The world went round about,
  No cares we ever knew:
But now, alas! she 's left me,
  Falero, lero, loo!
 
To maidens' vows and swearing
  Henceforth no credit give;
You may give them the hearing,
  But never them believe;
They are as false as fair,
  Unconstant, frail, untrue:
For mine, alas! hath left me,
  Falero, lero, loo!

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

  • by George Wither (1588 - 1667), "I loved a lass" [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 Louise Pauline Marie Héritte-Viardot (1841 - 1918), "Falero, lero, loo!", published 1892 [ voice and piano ], London : J. B. Cramer & Co [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Humphrey Procter-Gregg (1895 - 1980), "I loved a lass " [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Eric Sams (1926 - 2004), "I loved a lass", 1953 [ voice and piano ], confirmed with a concert programme booklet [sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2011-06-23
Line count: 48
Word count: 250

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