by (Henry) Austin Dobson (1840 - 1921)
The milkmaid
Language: English
Across the grass I see her pass; She comes with tripping pace,-- A maid I know, -- and March winds blow Her hair across her face; -- With a hey, Dolly! ho, Dolly! Dolly shall be mine, Before the spray is white with May, Or blooms the eglantine. The March winds blow. I watch her go: Her eye is brown and clear; Her cheek is brown, and soft as down (To those who see it near!) -- With a hey, Dolly! ho, Dolly! Dolly shall be mine, Before the spray is white with May, Or blooms the eglantine. What has she not that they have got,-- The dames that walk in silk! If she undo her 'kerchief blue, Her neck is white as milk. With a hey, Dolly! ho, Dolly! Dolly shall be mine, Before the spray is white with May, Or blooms the eglantine. Let those who will be proud and chill! For me, from June to June, My Dolly's words are sweet as curds-- Her laugh is like a tune;-- With a hey, Dolly! ho, Dolly! Dolly shall be mine, Before the spray is white with May, Or blooms the eglantine. Break, break to hear, O crocus-spear! O tall Lent-lilies, flame! There'll be a bride at Easter-tide, And Dolly is her name. With a hey, Dolly! ho, Dolly! Dolly shall be mine, Before the spray is white with May, Or blooms the eglantine.
Authorship:
- by (Henry) Austin Dobson (1840 - 1921), "The milkmaid", subtitle: "A new song to an old tune", appears in At the Sign of the Lyre, New York: Henry Hold and Company, pages 27-29, first published 1885 [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 Mary Grant Carmichael (1851 - 1935), "The milkmaid", published 1886 [voice and piano], London: Weekes & Co. [text not verified]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2013-01-26
Line count: 40
Word count: 232