Price codeB
World, traditional, folkCatalogue no. 2029
Riddle song
I will give my love an apple
Music: Trad. arr. Douglas Cook, Words: Anon
Voicing: SSA
Performance time approx: 1m 40s
Range S1: c' – e'' / S2: a – e'' / A: f – c''
Price code: B
Complexity:
This is an old and widespread English riddle, which has many variants. In this plaintive arrangement in chordal harmony by Cumbrian composer Douglas Cook, the melody is passed between the different voices.
I will give my love an apple without any core,
I wll give my love a house without any door,
I will give my love a palace wherein she may be,
And she may unlock it without a key.
How can you have an apple without any core?
How can you have a house without any door?
And where is the palace wherein I may be,
And how may I unlock it without any key?
My head is the apple without any core,
My mind is the house without any door,
My heart is the palace wherein you may be,
And you may unlock it without any key.
Traditional English