Author: Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

Texts set to music [warning - not necessarily comprehensive]

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Note: titles are in bold and first lines are in italics

A canticle to Apollo (Play, Phœbus, on thy lute) - F. Hart
A Christmas Carol, Sung To The King In The Presence At White-Hall (What sweeter music can we bring )
G. Binkerd: What sweeter music

A funeral stone
F. Hart: To laurels

A grace for a child - F. Hart [x]
A Hymn to Love (I will confess with cheerfulness)
A. Douw: Women useless - an hymne to love

A hymn to Neptune (Mighty Neptune, may it please) - F. Hart
A short hymn to Venus (Goddess, I do love a girl) - F. Hart
A sweet disorder in the dress
R. Still: The poetry of dress

A vow to Mars (Store of courage to me grant) - F. Hart
A wearied pilgrim, I have wandered here
F. Hart: The pilgrim

About the sweet bag of a bee
F. Hart: The bag of the bee

Ah, Ben!/ Say how, or when
M. Gideon: An Ode for Ben Jonson

An die Musik - E. Meyer ENG (Text: after Robert Herrick) [x]
An epitaph upon a virgin (Here a solemn fast we keep) - F. Hart
An Ode for Ben Jonson (Ah, Ben!/ Say how, or when) - M. Gideon
An Ode for Him (Ah, Ben!/ Say how, or when)
M. Gideon: An Ode for Ben Jonson

Another Epitaph (Here a pretty baby lies) - N. Rorem
Another upon her weeping (She by the river sat, and sitting there)
F. Hart: Upon Julia's weeping

Ask me why I send you here
F. Bridge: The primrose

Begin with Jove; then is the work half done
F. Hart: Jove -- Evensong

Bid me to live (Bid me to live, and I will live) - J. Carpenter FRE
Bid me to live, and I will live FRE
D. Arditti, J. Hatton, N. Rorem: To Anthea, who may command him anything
J. Carpenter: Bid me to live

Bind me but to thee with thine hair
F. Hart: The bondman

Both you two have
F. Hart: To the yew and cypress

Bright tulips, we do know
F. Hart: To a bed of tulips

Canticle to Apollo (Play, Phœbus, on thy lute) - A. Strilko
Charm me asleep, and melt me so
P. Hindemith, N. Rorem: To Music, to becalm his Fever
A. Douw: To music, to becalm his fever
B. Holmes: To Musique, to becalme his Fever
E. Carter, J. Edmunds, M. Gideon: To Music
L. Bassett: To music

Cherry ripe (Cherry-ripe, ripe, ripe, I cry ) - R. Quilter, C. Horn
Cherry-ripe (Cherry-ripe, ripe, ripe, I cry ) - N. Rorem
Cherry-ripe, ripe, ripe, I cry
R. Quilter, C. Horn: Cherry ripe
N. Rorem: Cherry-ripe

Choose me your valentine (Choose me your valentine) - F. Hart
Choose me your valentine
F. Hart: Choose me your valentine

Chop-cherry (Thou gav'st me leave to kiss ) - F. Hart
Come, come away
F. Hart: Upon a delaying lady

Come Sons of Summer, by whose toile
E. Carter: Harvest Home

Comfort to a Youth that had lost his Love (What needs complaints) - N. Rorem
Corinna's going a-Maying (Get up, get up for shame, the blooming morn) - E. Walker
Dew sat on Julia's hair
F. Hart: Upon Julia's hair filled with dew
R. Quilter: Julia's Hair

Dis-moi d'aimer (Dis-moi de vivre, et je vivrai ) - J. Carpenter ENG FRE
Dis-moi de vivre, et je vivrai ENG FRE
J. Carpenter: Dis-moi d'aimer

Divination by a daffodil (When a daffodil I see) - F. Hart
Epitaph - F. Hart [x]
Epitaph (upon a Child that died) (Here she lies, a pretty bud ) - N. Rorem
Evensong (Begin with Jove; then is the work half done)
F. Hart: Jove -- Evensong

Fair daffodils (Fair daffodils, we weep to see) - F. Bridge
Fair daffodils, we weep to see
F. Delius: To Daffodils
B. Britten, H. Darke, E. Farrar: To daffodils
F. Bridge: Fair daffodils

Fair pledges of a fruitful tree
C. Parry: To blossoms

First, April, she with mellow showers DUT
E. Křenek: The four sweet months
B. Britten: The succession of the four sweet months

Fresh strewings allow
F. Hart: The Peter-penny

From noise of scare-fires rest ye free
F. Hart: The bell-man

From this bleeding hand of mine
F. Hart: The sprig of eglantine

Gather ye rosebuds (Gather ye rosebuds while ye may) - W. Lawes, T. Pasatieri, M. Gideon SPA
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may SPA
M. Dring, B. Moore: To the virgins, to make much of time
D. Arditti: To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time
W. Lawes, T. Pasatieri, M. Gideon: Gather ye rosebuds

Get up, get up for shame, the blooming morn
E. Walker: Corinna's going a-Maying

Give me a cell
F. Hart: His wish to privacie

Go, happy rose, and interwove
C. Stanford: To the rose

Go, perjur'd man (Go, perjur'd man, and if thou e'er return) - J. Blow
Go, perjur'd man, and if thou e'er return
J. Blow: Go, perjur'd man

Go, perjured man (Go, perjured man! and if you e'er return) - R. Ramsey
Go, perjured man! and if you e'er return
R. Ramsey: Go, perjured man

Goddess, I do love a girl
F. Hart: A short hymn to Venus

Goe hence away, and in thy parting know
G. Binkerd: Upon parting

Good speed, for I this day
F. Hart: To the lark

Good-morrow to the day so fair
D. Diamond: The Mad Maid's Song
D. Arditti: The Mad Girl's Song

Harvest Home (Come Sons of Summer, by whose toile) - E. Carter
He that will not love (He that will not love must be) - W. Lawes
He that will not love must be
W. Lawes: He that will not love

Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee
R. Quilter: The Night Piece
M. Gideon: The shooting starres attend thee

Her pretty feet
F. Hart: Upon her feet

Here a pretty baby lies
N. Rorem: Another Epitaph

Here a solemn fast we keep
F. Hart: An epitaph upon a virgin

Here she lies, a pretty bud
F. Hart: Upon a child that dyed
N. Rorem: Epitaph (upon a Child that died)
R. Birch: Upon a child that died

His creed (I do believe that die I must) - F. Hart
His recantation (Love, I recant) - F. Hart
His wish to privacie (Give me a cell) - F. Hart
His wish to privacy (Give me a cell)
F. Hart: His wish to privacie

How Lillies came white (White though ye be; yet, Lillies, know) - G. Binkerd
How marigolds came yellow (Jealous girls these sometimes were) - A. Vores
How roses came red (Roses at first were white) - A. Vores, F. Hart
How violets became blue (Love on a day, wise poets tell)
F. Hart: How violets came blue
A. Vores: How violets came blew

How violets came blew (Love on a day, wise poets tell) - A. Vores
How violets came blue (Love on a day, wise poets tell) - F. Hart
I call and I call (I call, I call: who do ye call?) - F. Hart
I call, I call: who do ye call?
F. Hart: I call and I call

I dare not ask a kiss GER
G. Binkerd, K. Wiggin: To Electra

I do believe that die I must
F. Hart: His creed

I held Love's head (I held Love's head while it did ache ) - P. Warlock
I held Love's head while it did ache
P. Warlock: I held Love's head
F. Hart: The head-ake

I plaid with love (I played with Love, as with the fire) - F. Hart
I played with Love, as with the fire
F. Hart: I plaid with love

I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers
A. Vores: The argument of his book

I will confess with cheerfulness
A. Douw: Women useless - an hymne to love

If ye will with Mab find grace
F. Hart: The fairies

I'm sick of love (I'm sick of love: O let me lie ) - W. Lawes
I'm sick of love: O let me lie
W. Lawes: I'm sick of love
F. Hart: To sycamores

In this little vault she lies
F. Hart: Upon a wife that dyed with jealousie

Jealous girls these sometimes were
A. Vores: How marigolds came yellow

Jove -- Evensong (Begin with Jove; then is the work half done) - F. Hart
Julia (Some ask'd me where rubies grew ) - C. Parry
Julia - J. Andriessen [x]
Julia's Hair (Dew sat on Julia's hair ) - R. Quilter
Let fair or foul my mistress be
F. Hart, F. Hart: Love lightly pleased

Let's now take our time
F. Hart: To be merry

Life of my life (Life of my life, take not so soone Thy flight) - D. Arditti
Life of my life, take not so soone Thy flight
D. Arditti: Life of my life

Love, I recant
F. Hart: His recantation

Love lightly pleased (Let fair or foul my mistress be) - F. Hart, F. Hart
Love looks for love (Love love begets, then never be) - F. Hart
Love love begets, then never be
F. Hart: Love looks for love

Love on a day, wise poets tell
F. Hart: How violets came blue
A. Vores: How violets came blew

Love's a thing, as I do hear GER
D. Arditti: Upon love

Meditation for his mistress (You are a tulip seen to-day) - E. Maconchy
Mighty Neptune, may it please
F. Hart: A hymn to Neptune

O times most bad
A. Douw: Upon the troublesome times

Oft have I heard both youths and virgins say
F. Hart: To his Valentine

On gilli-flowers begotten (What was't that fell but now) - F. Hart
On gilly-flowers begotten (What was't that fell but now)
F. Hart: On gilli-flowers begotten

On himself - A. Douw [x]
On himself (A wearied pilgrim, I have wandered here)
F. Hart: The pilgrim

On himselfe - F. Hart [x]
On love - F. Hart [x]
One ask'd me where the roses grew
F. Hart: The rosarie

One silent night of late
C. Parry: The ungentle guest

Open thy gates
F. Hart: To heaven

Play, Phœbus, on thy lute
F. Hart: A canticle to Apollo
A. Strilko: Canticle to Apollo

Reach, with your whiter hands, to me
F. Hart: To the water nymphs drinking at the fountain

Roses at first were white
A. Vores, F. Hart: How roses came red

Shall I a daily beggar be
F. Hart: The beggar

She by the river sat, and sitting there
F. Hart: Upon Julia's weeping

Shut not so soon; the dull-eyed night
F. Hart: To daisies, not to shut so soon
D. Arditti, R. Quilter: To Daisies
J. Taffs: To daisies
N. Rorem: To daisies, not to shut so Soon

So good luck came, and on my roof did light
A. Vores: The coming of good luck

So look the mornings when the sun
R. Quilter: The Maiden Blush

Soft music (The mellow touch of music most doth wound) - E. Walker
Some ask'd me where rubies grew
A. Spalding: The Rock of Rubies and the Quarrie of Pearls
C. Parry: Julia

Some ask'd me where the rubies grew
A. Spalding: The Rock of Rubies and the Quarrie of Pearls
C. Parry: Julia

Stay while ye will, or go
F. Hart: To carnations

Store of courage to me grant
F. Hart: A vow to Mars

Sweet Oenone, do but say
F. Hart: To Oenone

Sweet Western Wind (Sweet western wind, whose luck it is) - M. Gideon
Sweet western wind, whose luck it is
M. Gideon: Sweet Western Wind
F. Hart: To the western wind

Tapers (Those tapers which we set upon the grave) - F. Hart
The argument of his book (I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers) - A. Vores
The bag of the bee (About the sweet bag of a bee) - F. Hart
The beggar (Shall I a daily beggar be) - F. Hart
The bell-man (From noise of scare-fires rest ye free) - F. Hart
The bellman (From noise of scare-fires rest ye free)
F. Hart: The bell-man

The bleeding hand; or, the sprig of eglantine given to a maid (From this bleeding hand of mine)
F. Hart: The sprig of eglantine

The bondman (Bind me but to thee with thine hair) - F. Hart
The bracelet (Why I tie about thy wrist ) - R. Quilter
The bracelet to Julia (Why I tie about thy wrist )
R. Quilter: The bracelet

The cheat of Cupid; or, The ungentle guest (One silent night of late)
C. Parry: The ungentle guest

The coming of good luck (So good luck came, and on my roof did light) - A. Vores
The fairies (If ye will with Mab find grace) - F. Hart
The four sweet months (First, April, she with mellow showers) - E. Křenek DUT
The Hag (The Hag is astride) - J. Hatton DUT
The Hag is astride (The Hag is astride) - E. Bunge DUT
The Hag is astride DUT
C. Wood: The ride of the witch (The hag)
J. Hatton: The Hag
E. Bunge: The Hag is astride

The head-ake (I held Love's head while it did ache ) - F. Hart
The lily in a crystal (You have beheld a smiling rose) - A. Douw
The Mad Girl's Song (Good-morrow to the day so fair) - D. Arditti
The Mad Maid's Song (Good-morrow to the day so fair) - D. Diamond
The Maiden Blush (So look the mornings when the sun) - R. Quilter
The mellow touch of music most doth wound
E. Walker: Soft music

The Night Piece (Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee ) - R. Quilter
The Night Piece, to Julia (Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee )
R. Quilter: The Night Piece
M. Gideon: The shooting starres attend thee

The Peter-penny (Fresh strewings allow) - F. Hart
The pilgrim (A wearied pilgrim, I have wandered here) - F. Hart
The poetry of dress (A sweet disorder in the dress) - R. Still
The primrose (Ask me why I send you here) - F. Bridge
The ride of the witch (The hag) (The Hag is astride) - C. Wood DUT
The Rock of Rubies and the Quarrie of Pearls (Some ask'd me where rubies grew ) - A. Spalding
The rock of rubies, and the quarry of pearls (Some ask'd me where rubies grew )
A. Spalding: The Rock of Rubies and the Quarrie of Pearls
C. Parry: Julia

The rosarie (One ask'd me where the roses grew) - F. Hart
The rosary (One ask'd me where the roses grew)
F. Hart: The rosarie

The shooting starres attend thee (Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee ) - M. Gideon
The sprig of eglantine (From this bleeding hand of mine) - F. Hart
The succession of the four sweet months (First, April, she with mellow showers) - B. Britten DUT
The ungentle guest (One silent night of late) - C. Parry
Those tapers which we set upon the grave
F. Hart: Tapers

Thou art to all lost love the best
N. Rorem: To the Willow-tree

Thou gav'st me leave to kiss (Thou gav'st me leave to kiss ) - P. Warlock
Thou gav'st me leave to kiss
F. Hart: Chop-cherry
P. Warlock: Thou gav'st me leave to kiss

Thrice happy roses, so much grac'd to have
F. Hart: Upon the roses in Julia's bosom

To a bed of tulips (Bright tulips, we do know) - F. Hart
To Anthea - F. Hart [x]
To Anthea, who may command him anything (Bid me to live, and I will live) - D. Arditti, J. Hatton, N. Rorem FRE
To be merry (Let's now take our time) - F. Hart
To blossoms (Fair pledges of a fruitful tree) - C. Parry
To carnations (Stay while ye will, or go) - F. Hart
To carnations. A song (Stay while ye will, or go)
F. Hart: To carnations

To daffodils (Fair daffodils, we weep to see) - B. Britten, H. Darke, E. Farrar
To Daisies (Shut not so soon; the dull-eyed night ) - D. Arditti, R. Quilter
To daisies, not to shut so Soon (Shut not so soon; the dull-eyed night ) - N. Rorem
To Dianeme - F. Hart [x]
To Electra (I dare not ask a kiss) - G. Binkerd, K. Wiggin GER
To Electra - F. Hart [x]
To Electra. Love looks for love (Love love begets, then never be)
F. Hart: Love looks for love

To Fortune (Tumble me down, and I will sit) - F. Hart
To God on his sickness (What though my harp and viol be) - F. Hart
To God: On his sickness (What though my harp and viol be)
F. Hart: To God on his sickness

To heaven (Open thy gates) - F. Hart
To his mistress (Choose me your valentine)
F. Hart: Choose me your valentine

To his Valentine (Oft have I heard both youths and virgins say) - F. Hart
To his valentine on St. Valentine's Day (Oft have I heard both youths and virgins say)
F. Hart: To his Valentine

To Julia (Whereas in silks my Julia goes ) - R. Still
To laurels (A funeral stone) - F. Hart
To music (Charm me asleep, and melt me so ) - L. Bassett
To music, to becalm his fever (Charm me asleep, and melt me so ) - A. Douw
To Musique, to becalme his Fever (Charm me asleep, and melt me so ) - B. Holmes
To Oenone (What conscience, say, is it in thee) - F. Hart
To Oenone (Sweet Oenone, do but say) - F. Hart
To primroses filled with morning dew (Why do ye weep, sweet babes? can tears/ speak grief in you) - F. Hart
To Sapho - F. Hart [x]
To sycamores (I'm sick of love: O let me lie ) - F. Hart
To the lark (Good speed, for I this day) - F. Hart
To the rose (Go, happy rose, and interwove) - C. Stanford
To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time (Gather ye rosebuds while ye may) - D. Arditti SPA
To the water nymphs drinking at the fountain (Reach, with your whiter hands, to me) - F. Hart
To the western wind (Sweet western wind, whose luck it is) - F. Hart
To the Willow-tree (Thou art to all lost love the best) - N. Rorem
To the yew and cypress (Both you two have) - F. Hart
To the yew and cypress to grace his funeral (Both you two have)
F. Hart: To the yew and cypress

To violets (Welcome, maids-of-honour ) - I. Gurney, J. Taffs, F. Hart
Tumble me down, and I will sit
F. Hart: To Fortune

Upon a child - F. Hart [x]
Upon a child that died (Here she lies, a pretty bud ) - R. Birch
Upon a child that dyed (Here she lies, a pretty bud ) - F. Hart
Upon a delaying lady (Come, come away) - F. Hart
Upon a maide - F. Hart [x]
Upon a wife that died mad with jealousy (In this little vault she lies)
F. Hart: Upon a wife that dyed with jealousie

Upon a wife that dyed with jealousie (In this little vault she lies) - F. Hart
Upon Electra (When out of bed my love doth spring) - F. Hart
Upon her feet (Her pretty feet) - F. Hart
Upon Julia's clothes (Whereas in silks my Julia goes ) - J. Corigliano, N. Rorem, F. Hart
Upon Julia's hair fill'd with dew (Dew sat on Julia's hair )
F. Hart: Upon Julia's hair filled with dew
R. Quilter: Julia's Hair

Upon Julia's hair filled with dew (Dew sat on Julia's hair ) - F. Hart
Upon Julia's weeping (She by the river sat, and sitting there) - F. Hart
Upon love (Love's a thing, as I do hear ) - D. Arditti GER
Upon love (I held Love's head while it did ache )
P. Warlock: I held Love's head
F. Hart: The head-ake

Upon love (I played with Love, as with the fire)
F. Hart: I plaid with love

Upon love - F. Hart [x]
Upon parting (Goe hence away, and in thy parting know) - G. Binkerd
Upon the roses in Julia's bosom (Thrice happy roses, so much grac'd to have) - F. Hart
Upon the troublesome times (O times most bad) - A. Douw
Upon thee departed hence - F. Hart [x]
Welcome, Maids of Honour (Welcome, maids-of-honour ) - B. Britten
Welcome, maids-of-honour
I. Gurney, J. Taffs, F. Hart: To violets
B. Britten: Welcome, Maids of Honour

What conscience, say, is it in thee
F. Hart: To Oenone

What needs complaints
N. Rorem: Comfort to a Youth that had lost his Love

What sweeter music (What sweeter music can we bring ) - G. Binkerd
What sweeter music can we bring
G. Binkerd: What sweeter music

What though my harp and viol be
F. Hart: To God on his sickness

What was't that fell but now
F. Hart: On gilli-flowers begotten

When a daffodil I see
F. Hart: Divination by a daffodil

When out of bed my love doth spring
F. Hart: Upon Electra

Whenas in silks my Julia goes (Whereas in silks my Julia goes ) - J. Edmunds, J. Lessard
Whenas in silks my Julia goes
R. Still: To Julia
J. Edmunds, J. Lessard: Whenas in silks my Julia goes
J. Corigliano, N. Rorem, F. Hart: Upon Julia's clothes

Whereas in silks my Julia goes
R. Still: To Julia
J. Edmunds, J. Lessard: Whenas in silks my Julia goes
J. Corigliano, N. Rorem, F. Hart: Upon Julia's clothes

White though ye be; yet, Lillies, know
G. Binkerd: How Lillies came white

Why do ye weep, sweet babes? can tears/ speak grief in you
F. Hart: To primroses filled with morning dew

Why I tie about thy wrist
R. Quilter: The bracelet

Women useless - an hymne to love (I will confess with cheerfulness) - A. Douw
You are a tulip seen to-day
E. Maconchy: Meditation for his mistress

You have beheld a smiling rose
A. Douw: The lily in a crystal

[x] indicates a placeholder for a text that is not yet in the database
* indicates that a text is thought to be copyright and that we have no permission to display it on the website. For some of the texts marked this way, we have incomplete information about their copyright status. They may in fact be public domain.