by Sir Alexander Boswell (1775 - 1822)
Let brain‑spinning swains
Language: English
Let brain-spinning swains, in effusions fantastic, Sing meetings by moonlight in arbour or grove; But Patrick O'Donnelly's taste is more plastic, All times and all seasons are fitted for love: At Cork or Killarny, Killala or Blarney, At fair, wake, or wedding, my passion must glow: Fair maid, will you but trust to me, Fondly I'll love you wherever I go. When driving the cows of old father O'Leary, An angel, yourself, I had still in my eye; When digging potatoes, mud-spatter'd and weary. O what did I think on, but you, with a sigh! At plough, or haymaking, I'm in an odd tucking, My bosom heaves high, though my spirits be low: Fair maid, will you but trust to me, Fondly I'll love you wherever I go. When first I 'spied your sweet face, I remember, That hot summer day, how I shiver'd for shame! You smil'd when I met you again in December, And then, by the Pow'rs, I was all in a flame! Come summer, come winter, in you my thoughts center, I doat on you, Judy, from top to he toe: Fair maid, will you but trust to me Fondly I'll love you wherever I go.
Authorship:
- by Sir Alexander Boswell (1775 - 1822), "Let brain-spinning swains" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "Let brain-spinning swains", WoO. 152 (25 irische Lieder) no. 15, G. 223 no. 15 (1810/3) [ voice, violin, violoncello, piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Georg Pertz) , "Laß brütende Schwärmer"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-12-11
Line count: 24
Word count: 200