SP3024
The sweet of the year
Music: Sheena Phillips, Words: William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)
Voicing: SATB
Performance time approx: 1m 30s
Price code: B
Complexity:
This song from Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale is actually a celebration of springtime and the revival of lust and love. It should be sung with some energy!
Companion Shakespeare songs published by Canasg include ‘Fairy song’ (from A midsummer Night’s Dream) and ‘Full fathom five’ (from The Tempest). A recording of this song by Rudsambee company of singers is available on the CD citrus and honey (RUBEECD002).
When daffodils begin to peer,
With heigh! the doxy over the dale,
Why then comes in the sweet o' the year,
For the red blood reigns in the winter's pale.
The white sheet bleaching on the hedge,
With heigh! the sweet birds, O, how they sing!
Doth set my pugging tooth on edge,
For a quart of ale is a dish for a king.
The lark that tirra-lirra chants,
With heigh! with heigh! the thrush and the jay,
Are summer songs for me and my aunts,
While we lie tumbling in the hay.
William Shakespeare
from A Winter's Tale