Bushes and Briers (Jennifer Bastable)
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- (Posted 2024-06-14) CPDL #80929:
- Editor: Jennifer Bastable (submitted 2024-06-14). Score information: Letter, 6 pages, 356 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: Version for choir.
- (Posted 2025-10-13) CPDL #87128:
- Editor: Jennifer Bastable (submitted 2025-10-13). Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 235 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: Unaccompanied folk-song version.
General Information
Title: Bushes and Briers
Composer: Jennifer Bastable
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Folksong
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
First published:
Description: A four-part setting of traditional words from a broadside ballad, as a folk-tune-like song for soprani with accompanying choir of alto/tenor/bass.
The unaccompanied folk-song version is also given. Whilst through-composed folk-songs are relatively thin on the ground, they certainly do exist.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
(Sing, o sing, my own true-love,
Sing, my dearest dear.)
Through bushes and through briers I lately took my way,
All for to hear the small birds sing and the lambs to skip and play;
I overheard my own true love, her voice it was so clear:
Long time I have been waiting for the coming of my dear.
Sometimes I am uneasy and troubled in my mind,
Sometimes I think I'll go to my love and tell to him my mind.
And if I should go to my love, my love he will say nay,
If I show to him my boldness, he'll ne'er love me again.
And I cannot think the reason young women love young men
For they are so false-hearted, young women to trepan; [to betray]
Yet I’m of the opinion my heart is not my own.
So the green, green grave will see me, for I cannot love that man.