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     GREENSLEEVES



There are many versions of the traditional lyrics of "Greensleeves" as a conventional lover's lament, often varying simply in the syllabic density. The first printed version begins:

    Alas my loue, ye do me wrong,

        to cast me off discurteously:

    And I have loued you so long

        Delighting in your companie.

Many versions use updated grammar, or a mix. Here is the same verse in a sparser version:

    Alas, my love, you do me wrong
    To cast me out discourteously,
    For I have loved you for so long,
    Delighting in your company.

The full lyrics, with updated grammar, are listed as follows.

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

    Chorus:
    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.

    (Chorus)

    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.

    (Chorus)

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

    (Chorus)

    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.

    (Chorus)

    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.

    (Chorus)

    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.

    (Chorus)

    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.

    (Chorus)