Early one morning (Volkslieder (Folksongs), set by H. Gál, B. Britten, P. Grainger, M. Tippett) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Early one morning, just as the sun was rising,
I heard a maid sing in the valley below.
"Oh, don't deceive me, oh, never leave me,
How could you use a poor maiden so?"

"O gay is the [garland, fresh]² are the roses
I've culled from the garden to bind on thy brow.
O don't deceive me, O do not leave me!
How could you use a poor maiden so?

Remember the vows that you [made]¹ to your Mary,
Remember the bow'r where you vowed to be true.
"Oh, don't deceive me, oh, never leave me.
How could you use a poor maiden so!"

Thus sung the poor maiden, her sorrow bewailing,
Thus sung the poor maid in the valley below;
"O don't deceive me! O do not leave me!
How could you use a poor maiden so?"

P. Grainger sets stanzas 1, 3
M. Tippett sets stanzas 1, 3, 2, 4

View text without footnotes
¹ Tippett: "gave"
² Tippett: "garland and"

Authorship

Folk poetry or song tradition (Volkslieder)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

(Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Hans Gál (1890-1987)

Four British Folk-songs

Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882-1961)

Michael Tippett (1905-1998)

Four Songs from the British Isles

Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):

FIN

Finnish

Text added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

Notes about green, red, and white dots

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!
- Emily

I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.