Greensleeves

This renaissance song is a well known minstrel piece that is sung classically all over. The story goes that king Henery VIII composed this song for queen consort Anne Boleyn, as Anne allegedly rejected King Henery's attempts to seduce her. Although an interesting story, this is actually unlikely as the composition style is anachronistic for England at the time.

Lyrics Below:

Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long,
Delighting your company.

Greensleeves was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves.

Your vows you've broken, like my heart,
Oh, why did you so enrapture me?
Now I remain in a world apart
But my heart remains in captivity.

Greensleeves was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves.

I have been ready at your hand,
To grant whatever you would'st crave,
I have both wagered life And land,
Your love And good-will for to have.

Greensleeves was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves.

If you intend thus to disdain,
It does the more enrapture me,
And even so, I still remain
A lover in captivity.

Greensleeves was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves.

My men were clothed all in green,
And they did ever wait on thee;
All this was gallant to be seen,
And yet thou wouldst not love me.

Greensleeves was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves.

Thou could'st desire no earthly thing,
But still thou had'st it readily.
Thy music still to play And sing;
And yet thou wouldst not love me.

Greensleeves was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves.

Well, I will pray to God on high,
That thou my constancy mayst see,
And that yet once before I die,
Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me.

Greensleeves was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves.

Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu,
To God I pray to prosper thee,
For I am still thy lover true,
Come once again And love me.

Greensleeves was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves.