Greensleeves
McKENNITT LOREENA Lyrics
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To cast me off discourteously;
And I have loved you oh so long
Delighting in your company.
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
I have been ready at your hand
To grant whatever thou would'st crave;
I have waged both life and land
Your love and goodwill for to have.
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
Thy petticoat of slender white
With gold embroidered gorgeously;
Thy petticoat of silk and white
And these I bought gladly.
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
The lyrics of "Greensleeves" are from the perspective of a man who has been cast off by his beloved, who he addresses as "my lady Greensleeves." He is lamenting her rejection, declaring his love for her and his willingness to do anything to win her back. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, expressing the depth of the man's emotions and the pain of unrequited love.
The refrain of the song repeatedly mentions "Greensleeves," which was likely a common nickname for a woman at the time the song was written (the 16th century). The specific origins of the name have been debated, with some theories suggesting it could refer to green sleeves on a dress, or to a green instrument played by a musician.
One interesting aspect of the song is the use of the word "petticoat," which in modern times is generally associated with women's clothing. However, in Shakespearean times and earlier, "petticoat" also referred to a man's undergarment.
Line by Line Meaning
Alas my love you do me wrong
Unfortunately, my love, you have treated me unfairly
To cast me off discourteously;
You have dismissed me without proper manners or consideration
And I have loved you oh so long
Despite this, I have loved you for a considerable amount of time
Delighting in your company.
And have thoroughly enjoyed being around you
Greensleeves was my delight,
The song 'Greensleeves' brought me great joy
Greensleeves my heart of gold
It held a special place in my heart
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And was a source of joy for me
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
For it was you, my lady Greensleeves, who inspired such feelings in me
I have been ready at your hand
I have always been ready to fulfill your every request
To grant whatever thou would'st crave;
And have been willing to grant anything you desired
I have waged both life and land
I have risked both my life and possessions
Your love and goodwill for to have.
In order to earn your love and favor
Thy petticoat of slender white
Your slender white skirt
With gold embroidered gorgeously;
Adorned with beautiful golden embroidery
Thy petticoat of silk and white
And your white silk skirt
And these I bought gladly.
I bought these for you with great pleasure
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Spirit Music Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GENE GRILLO, GUY MOON, TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind