The butterfly (Harvey Worthington Loomis)
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- (Posted 2024-02-13) CPDL #79120:
- Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2024-02-13). Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 385 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: The butterfly
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)
Arranger: Harvey Worthington Loomis
Lyricist: Harvey Worthington Loomis
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong, Folksong
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
First published: 1910 American Book Company
Description: FRENCH MELODY
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Flitting in and out among the roses
Flash the wings of the butterfly of gold;
Never for a moment he reposes
Till the spring is a story that is told.
No one ever knows,
No one but the rose, the sweetest flower!
Would I were the rose, sweet rose!
Plain it is to see he’s jealous of the bee,
But how could he ever fight a duel?
How could he ever really fight?
Really, he is nothing but a jewel,
A bonny little jewel he.
Then, you know, the bee is very cruel;
Though he sing, he yet can surely sting,
Which sure would bring to the jealousy but fuel.
O little yellow-winged rover,
A fickle rover you!
’Tis a pretty secret now he is confiding,
Where he poises sweetly,
Would I were a rose, to hear if he be chiding,
You deserve to be chidden by the rose;
I have seen you flirting with the clover,
’Tis a secret whole world knows!