Lady Greensleeves
The other day, my husband played this song on our stereo, sung by Loreena McKinnett. Unbeknownst to him, Greensleeves is one of my favorite pieces of music, one I learned young – and even know the music to on piano. As it was also the wedding song of my parents, every so often, they played it around our home.
Loreena McKinnett’s singing transported me into the depths of its emotion, in a way I had never heard. It inspired this abstract iconic, and the feelings from the tumult of lost love.
Greensleeves might be anything we loved, anything that was our ‘heart of joy’ at one time. I relate to the longing, as I deeply miss my family in New York during this time, when bans have blocked our travel. I am stirred with great feeling as so much has changed in our world.
Alas my love you do me wrong
To cast me off discourteously;
And I have loved you oh so long
Delighting in your company.
To cast me off discourteously;
And I have loved you oh so long
Delighting in your company.
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
I have been ready at your hand
To grant whatever thou would’st crave;
I have waged both life and land
Your love and goodwill for to have.
To grant whatever thou would’st crave;
I have waged both life and land
Your love and goodwill for to have.
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
Thy petticoat of slender white
With gold embroidered gorgeously;
Thy petticoat of silk and white
And these I bought gladly.
With gold embroidered gorgeously;
Thy petticoat of silk and white
And these I bought gladly.
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And who but my lady Greensleeves.