Songs

Early one morning

by Benjamin Britten

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Text

Early one morning
English source: Anon.

Early one morning, just as the sun was rising,
I heard a maid sing in the valley below;
‘O don’t deceive me, O never leave me!
How could you use a poor maiden so?

‘O gay is the garland, fresh are the roses
I’ve culled from the garden to bind on thy brow.
O don’t deceive me, O do not leave me!
How could you use a poor maiden so?

‘Remember the vows that you made to your Mary,
Remember the bow’r where you vow’d to be true;
O don’t deceive me, O never leave me!
How could you use a poor maiden so?’

Thus sung the poor maiden, her sorrow bewailing,
Thus sung the poor maid in the valley below;
‘O don’t deceive me! O do not leave me!
How could you use a poor maiden so?’

Composer

Benjamin Britten

Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British classical music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music,…

Poet

Performances

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