As I walked through the meadows
Language: English
As I walked through the meadows to take the fresh air, The flowers were blooming and gay; I heard a fair damsel so sweetly asinging. Her cheeks like a blossom in May. Said I: Pretty maiden and how came you here In the meadows this morning so soon? The maid she replied: For to gather some may, For the trees thay are all in full bloom. Said I: Pretty maiden shall I go with you To the meadows to gather some may? O no, sir, she said, I would rather refuse, For I fear you would lead me astray. Then I took this fair maid by the lily-white hand; On the green mossy bank we sat down; And I placed a kiss on her sweet rosy lips, While the small birds were singing around. And when we arose from the green mossy bank, To the meadows we wandered away; I placed my love on a primrose bank While I picked her a handful of may. Then early next morning I made her my bride, That the world might have nothing to say, The bells they did ring and the birds they did sing, And I crowned her the sweet Queen of May.
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Gardner Read (1913 - 2005), "As I walked through the meadows", op. 68 no. 3 (1946) [ mezzo-soprano and piano ], from Three Songs for Mezzo-Soprano, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
Set in a modified version by Imogen Clare Holst.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2022-06-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 202