Lyrics for Greensleeves by Traditional

Album: Greensleeves (1580)

songfacts ®

Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long,
Delighting in your company.

Chorus:
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.

Your vows you've broken, like my heart,
Oh, why did you so enrapture me?
Now I remain in a world apart
But my heart remains in captivity.

chorus

I have been ready at your hand,
To grant whatever you would crave,
I have both wagered life and land,
Your love and good-will for to have.

chorus

If you intend thus to disdain,
It does the more enrapture me,
And even so, I still remain
A lover in captivity.

chorus

My men were clothed all in green,
And they did ever wait on thee;
All this was gallant to be seen,
And yet thou wouldst not love me.

chorus

Thou couldst desire no earthly thing,
but still thou hadst it readily.
Thy music still to play and sing;
And yet thou wouldst not love me.

chorus

Well, I will pray to God on high,
that thou my constancy mayst see,
And that yet once before I die,
Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me.

chorus

Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu,
To God I pray to prosper thee,
For I am still thy lover true,
Come once again and love me.

chorus
Lyrics from a song in Public Domain

Comments: 9

Eileen Casino Nee Wilbur from UsaI have memories of this song from where I do not know. I do not know the lyrics, words.
Mimi from EnglandSuch a lovely song! My heart melts when every I hear it.
What A Beautiful Song from South AfricaThank you for the words
Wayne from Lexington, KyMy favorite instrumental version of this is Kim Robertson's arrangement for the Celtic Harp on the album "Celtic Christmas".
Ashley from Simi Valley CaThe piano tune is so calming.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 20th 1969, Mason Williams' covered version of "Greensleeves" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #93; the following week it would peak at #92 and that was also its final week on the Top 100...
He had three other records make the Top 100 chart; "Classical Gas" {#2* for 2 weeks in 1968}, "Barque-A-Nova {#96 in 1968}, and "Saturday Night at the World" {#99 in 1969}...
The two weeks "Classical Gas" was at #2 on the Top 100; the #1 record for both those weeks was "Hello, I Love You" by the Doors...
Mason Williams will celebrate his 77th birthday in three months on August 24th {2015}.
Chomper03 from Montrose, MdThe tune of this song was also used ( and still is use) for the Christmas song "What Child Is This?"
Chomper03 from Montrose, MdThis song was very popular among among Peasents and Noble Family Members of the Renaisance ages of England. It was played many times on the lute (a type of mandolin) by noble musicians; who would either charmed a "Faire Maiden" ( a young virgin female ), or just play for a few Pence ( english money in coins ).. Notably, they would played it for the Maidens.
Mathijs from Houten, NetherlandsLoreena McKennitt did a proper job on covering this as well.