Alas, my love, you do me wrong
To cast me off discourteously,
And I have lov-ed you so 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.

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

I brought thee kerchers to thy head,
That were wrought fine and gallantly;
I kept thee both at board and bed,
Which cost my purse well favouredly.

Well, I will pray to God on high,
That thou my constancy may'st see;
For I am still thy lover true;
Come once again, and love me.



abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Singing Together, Spring 1968, BBC Publications

Notes:
These are the notes printed in the pamphlet:

This tune is best known today in Vaughan Williams' arrangement for small orchestra. He also arranged it as a song in his opera Sir John in Love, and you will be singing it to the accompaniment Vaghan Williams wrote for it. Another version of the melody comes in Holst's "Dargason", the last movement of his suite St Paul's. The song is an old one, well known in shakespeare's day, and there are several country dance tunes very like it.

Roud:
Laws:
Child: