The Shepherd's Song
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics


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Come live with me and be my love
And we will all the pleasures prove
That hills and valleys, dale and field
And all the craggy mountain yields

The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning
There will we sit upon the rocks
And see the shepherds feed their flocks
By shallow rivers, to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals

The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning

There will I make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroider’d all with leaves of myrtle

The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull
Fair linèd slippers for the cold
With buckles of the purest gold

The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning

A belt of straw and ivy buds
With coral clasps and amber studs
And if these pleasures may thee move
Come live with me and be my love

The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning

If these delights thy mind may move
Then live with me and be my love
That hills and valleys, dale and field
And all the craggy mountain yields





The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning

Overall Meaning

The Shepherd's Song by Mediæval Bæbes is a love song that invites the beloved to come and live with the singer and experience all the enchanting pleasures that nature can offer. The first verse offers an invitation to live together and enjoy the pleasures that the mountains and fields can provide. The second verse describes the romantic setting where they can sit together and watch the shepherds tending to their sheep by the riverside, while birds sing sweetly. In the third verse, the singer creates a scene of beauty and lavishness for the beloved, promising to make beds of roses, a cap of flowers, and a kirtle embroidered with myrtle leaves. The final verse is an enticement to the beloved with the promise of a life of love and pleasure that is offered if only they come live with the singer.


The lyrics suggest a romantic and carefree lifestyle that is set against the beauty of nature. There is also a sense of nostalgia in the song, as the singer encourages the beloved to live in a world that celebrates the simple things in life. The tune is upbeat and cheerful, and the music is predominantly medieval, evoking imagery of a bygone era.


Line by Line Meaning

Come live with me and be my love
Join me in living together and being in love


And we will all the pleasures prove
Together we will experience all the pleasures life offers


That hills and valleys, dale and field
We will explore the beautiful landscapes of hills, valleys, and fields


And all the craggy mountain yields
We shall seek out all the resources and experiences that the craggy mountains provide


The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
These shepherd men shall dance and sing for our delight


For thy delight each May-morning
They shall do so for our enjoyment every morning in May


There will we sit upon the rocks
There we shall sit upon the rocks


And see the shepherds feed their flocks
As we observe the shepherds tending to their flocks


By shallow rivers, to whose falls
Next to shallow rivers, where we can hear the sounds of a waterfall


Melodious birds sing madrigals
We will be entertained by the beautiful songs of the birds


There will I make thee beds of roses
I will create for you beds made of roses


And a thousand fragrant posies
I will give you a thousand aromatic bouquets


A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
A hat made of flowers and a dress with intricate floral details


Embroider’d all with leaves of myrtle
The clothes shall be adorned with myrtle leaves


A gown made of the finest wool
I shall give you a gown made of the highest quality wool


Which from our pretty lambs we pull
That comes from our adorable lambs


Fair linèd slippers for the cold
Slippers with cozy lining to protect you from the cold


With buckles of the purest gold
Embellished with gold buckles of the highest purity


A belt of straw and ivy buds
A belt made of straw and ivy flowers


With coral clasps and amber studs
Featuring clasps made of coral and decorative studs of amber


And if these pleasures may thee move
If these pleasures may excite you


Come live with me and be my love
Join me in living together and being in love


If these delights thy mind may move
If these delights captivate your mind


Then live with me and be my love
Then come live with me and be my love


That hills and valleys, dale and field
We will explore the beautiful landscapes of hills, valleys, and fields


And all the craggy mountain yields
We shall seek out all the resources and experiences that the craggy mountains provide


The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
These shepherd men shall dance and sing for our delight


For thy delight each May-morning
They shall do so for our enjoyment every morning in May




Contributed by Logan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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