Greensleeves
Choir of the Chapel Royal of St.Peter ad Vincula Marie Goosens John Williams Lyrics
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To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long,
Delighting in your company.
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
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.
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.
The song Greensleeves is a beautiful ballad that speaks of unrequited love. The song is sung from the perspective of a man who has been betrayed by his love. He cannot comprehend why she would treat him so coldly and cast him off so abruptly. He laments that he had loved her well and for a long time, and that her company was a delight. He is heartbroken that the vows she made to him have been broken, causing his heart to break in tandem. He questions why he was enraptured by her when all she did was bring him to such great sorrow.
The chorus of the song is poetic and bittersweet in tone. Greensleeves is described as the man's joy, delight, and heart of gold. The identity of Greensleeves is ambiguous in the song, but it is believed to be a reference to a woman who is wearing a dress with green sleeves. The man's love for her is so great that he declares that who else but his lady greensleeves could have captured his heart.
The last verse of the song speaks of the man's willingness to do anything for his love. He has been at her beck and call, granting her every wish, even wagering his life and land in exchange for her affections. However, despite his efforts, he finds himself alone and heartbroken, unable to escape his feelings of captivity.
Line by Line Meaning
Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
Unfortunately, my beloved, you are mistreating me and acting discourteously towards me.
To cast me off discourteously.
You're rejecting me, my love, and it's causing me great pain because I've loved you for so long.
For I have loved you well and long,
My feelings for you have been strong and enduring, and I've taken great pleasure in spending time with you.
Delighting in your company.
I cherish every moment I spend with you and find great joy in your presence.
Greensleeves was all my joy
The song 'Greensleeves' brought me great happiness.
Greensleeves was my delight,
I found 'Greensleeves' to be a source of immense pleasure and enjoyment.
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
'Greensleeves' held a special place in my heart and meant everything to me.
And who but my lady greensleeves.
No one else could ever be associated with 'Greensleeves' except for you, my lady.
Your vows you′ve broken, like my heart,
You've broken your promises to me, just as you've broken my heart.
Oh, why did you so enrapture me?
Why did you enthrall me so deeply, my love, only to abandon me in this way?
Now I remain in a world apart
I'm left feeling isolated and separate from the rest of the world as a result of your actions.
But my heart remains in captivity.
Although I've been physically freed, my heart remains imprisoned and consumed by my love for you.
I have been ready at your hand,
I've always been willing to help you and fulfill your needs.
To grant whatever you would crave,
I would've given you anything you desired, my love.
I have both wagered life and land,
I've risked everything, including my life and property, for the sake of your love.
Your love and good-will for to have.
My ultimate desire was to earn your love and affection.
Writer(s): R. Sarc
Contributed by Grace R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.