Greensleeves
Greensleeves is one of the most famous melodies in the world of music and one of the most ancient too. The melody has links to Tudor England, it was referred to in classical music and it has so many interpretations in folk music. With it's heartfelt melancholic lyrics, no melody ever inspired so many songwriters as Greensleeves.
Greensleeves was for the first time refered to in September of the year 1580. Nevertheless, this doesn't say anything about it's composer: in that month there were no less than four registrations for the ballad, including two on the same day. On the third of September 1580 the printer Richard Jones registered at the London Stationer's Company the melody and the lyrics of a song that he described as "A new Northern Dittye of the Lady Green Sleeves". Almost at the same time rival printer Edward White registered "A ballad, being the Lady Green Sleeves answer to Donkyn his frende". On 15th of September another version was published by Edward White and he published another again on 18th of the same month. Needless to say that nobody could tell who realy had the rights to this song. |
Richard Jones published again on 14th of December and in 1581 two other versions followed. In 1584 Jones wrote his final version: the version we all do know today. Not much later the song appeared in publications such as William Ballet's Lute Book and "Het luitboek van Thysius", written by the Dutch Adriaen Smouth in 1595. By 1602 even Shakespeare referred to the song in his work "The Merry Wives of Windsor".
It is widely believed that the real author of Greensleeves was King Henry VIII, who was an accomplished composer and musician. People believe the lyrics of this song could refer to his love for Anne Boleyn, who would later become his wife. That at first she did not return his love do prove the words he wrote to her in 1528: "having been for more than a year now stuck by the darts of love, and being uncertain either of failure or of finding a place in your heart ..." Many of the verses of Greensleeves make believe that it is about the love of a very welthy man: "I bought thee petticoats of the best, the cloth so fine as it might be, I gave thee jewels for thy chest ..." and further: "My men were clothed all in green, and they did ever wait for thee ..." So, regarding this, it could be possible that the composer was the King. On the other hand, we should not forget that many compositions were attirbuted to him, which were not his at all. Nowadays people believe that Greensleeves was composed later on in Tudor times, during the reign of Queen Elisabeth I, who was Anna Boleyn's daughter. According to the style, Greensleeves also may have had an Italian influence and this was only possible after the king's death.
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Ever since it was mentioned for the first time, many variations were written on the tune and the lyrics were changed according to what people wanted to use the song for: in the 17th century, during the English Civil War it had political lyrics, and sailors were singing "The Blacksmith", on the tunes of Greensleeves. Also in the 17th century it was applied to a Christmas hymn. This led to more variations of that kind till in the 1865 the famous "What Child is This" was written by William Chatterton Dix to the tunes of Greensleeves.
In the 20th century Greensleeves became famous as the English composer Ralph Vaughn-Williams arranged it while he incorporated another old folk tune in it: "Lovely Joan". His arrangement "Fantasia on Greensleeves" has Lovely Joan in the central section and begins and ends with Greensleeves. Today, this arrangement is the best know rendition of the song. Today, maybe lyrics are forgotten, but everybody knows the melody. Greensleeves has been played and played over for more than 400 years.
The title "Greensleeves" also has been subject of many discussions: during the Tudor era, the sleeves were not always part of the ladie's clothing, but they were attached with a lace. So the colour of the sleeves may have been significant. Some people suggest that green was symbolic for promiscuity, which could mean that "Lady Greensleeves" actualy was a prostitute. Another explanation says just the opposite: in heraldry colours also had a meaning, and green indicated truth and fidelity. This explanation could be the most plausible, as the author also mentioned his men who were clothed in green. Anyhow, nobody knows or will ever know the real meaning of the title Greensleeves. Only one thing is for sure, the song is about the unanswered love of a rich man for a lady.
Sources: www.greensleeves-hubs.hubspages.com, www.en.wikipedia.com
In the 20th century Greensleeves became famous as the English composer Ralph Vaughn-Williams arranged it while he incorporated another old folk tune in it: "Lovely Joan". His arrangement "Fantasia on Greensleeves" has Lovely Joan in the central section and begins and ends with Greensleeves. Today, this arrangement is the best know rendition of the song. Today, maybe lyrics are forgotten, but everybody knows the melody. Greensleeves has been played and played over for more than 400 years.
The title "Greensleeves" also has been subject of many discussions: during the Tudor era, the sleeves were not always part of the ladie's clothing, but they were attached with a lace. So the colour of the sleeves may have been significant. Some people suggest that green was symbolic for promiscuity, which could mean that "Lady Greensleeves" actualy was a prostitute. Another explanation says just the opposite: in heraldry colours also had a meaning, and green indicated truth and fidelity. This explanation could be the most plausible, as the author also mentioned his men who were clothed in green. Anyhow, nobody knows or will ever know the real meaning of the title Greensleeves. Only one thing is for sure, the song is about the unanswered love of a rich man for a lady.
Sources: www.greensleeves-hubs.hubspages.com, www.en.wikipedia.com
The original Tudor version
CHORUS Greensleeves was all my joy, Greensleeves was my delight: Greensleeves was my hart of gold, And who but Ladie Greensleeves. VERSES Alas my love, you do me wrong, to cast me off discurteously: And I have loved you so long Delighting in your companie. I have been readie at your hand, to grant what ever you would crave. I have both waged life and land, your love and good will for to have. I bought three kerchers to thy head, that were wrought fine and gallantly: I kept thee both boord and bed, Which cost my purse wel favouredly, I bought thee peticotes of the best, the cloth so fine as might be: I gave thee jewels for thy chest, and all this cost I spent on thee. Thy smock of silk, both faire and white, with gold embrodered gorgeously: Thy peticote of Sendall right: and thus I bought thee gladly. Thy girdle of gold so red, with pearles bedecked sumptuously: The like no other lasses had, and yet thou wouldst not love me, Thy purse and eke thy gay guilt knives, thy pincase gallant to the eye: No better wore the Burgesse wives, and yet thou wouldst not love me. Thy crimson stockings all of silk, with golde all wrought above the knee, Thy pumps as white as was the milk, and yet thou wouldst not love me. Thy gown was of the grossie green, thy sleeves of Satten hanging by: Which made thee be our harvest Queen, and yet thou wouldst not love me. Thy garters fringed with the golde, And silver aglets hanging by, Which made thee blithe for to beholde, And yet thou wouldst not love me. My gayest gelding I thee gave, To ride where ever liked thee, No Ladie ever was so brave, And yet thou wouldst not love me. My men were clothed all in green, And they did ever wait on thee: Al this was gallant to be seen, and yet thou wouldst not love me. They set thee up, they took thee downe, they served thee with humilitie, Thy foote might not once touch the ground, and yet thou wouldst not love me. For everie morning when thou rose, I sent thee dainties orderly: To cheare thy stomack from all woes, and yet thou wouldst not love me. Thou couldst desire no earthly thing. But stil thou hadst it readily: Thy musicke still to play and sing, And yet thou wouldst not love me. And who did pay for all this geare, that thou didst spend when pleased thee? Even I that am rejected here, and thou disdainst to love me. Wel, I wil pray to God on hie, that thou my constancie maist see: And that yet once before I die, thou wilt vouchsafe to love me. Greensleeves now farewel adue, God I pray to prosper thee: For I am stil thy lover true, come once againe and love me. |
Modern lyrics
CHORUS Greensleeves was all my joy Greensleeves was my delight, Greensleeves was my heart of gold, And who but my lady greensleeves. VERSES Alas, my love, you do me wrong, To cast me off discourteously. For I have loved you well and long, Delighting in your company. Alas, my love, that you should own A heart of wanton vanity, So must I meditate alone Upon your insincerity. 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. If you intend thus to disdain, It does the more enrapture me, And even so, I still remain A lover in captivity. I have been ready at your hand, To grant whatever you would crave, I have both wagered life and land, Your love and good-will for to have. Thou couldst desire no earthly thing, But still thou hadst it readily. Thy music still to play and sing; And yet thou wouldst not love me. I bought thee kerchiefs for thy head, That were wrought fine and gallantly; I kept thee at both board and bed, Which cost my purse well-favoredly. I bought thee petticoats of the best, The cloth so fine as it might be; I gave thee jewels for thy chest, And all this cost I spent on thee. Thy smock of silk, both fair and white, With gold embroidered gorgeously; Thy petticoat of sendal right, And these I bought thee gladly. 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. They set thee up, they took thee down, They served thee with humility; Thy foot might not once touch the ground, And yet thou wouldst not love me. 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. 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. |