A poor soul sat sighing (Edward Smith Biggs)
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- (Posted 2022-12-01) CPDL #71741:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2022-12-01). Score information: A4, 5 pages, 271 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: A poor soul sat sighing
Composer: Edward Smith Biggs
Lyricist: William Shakespeare
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SSAB
Genre: Secular, Glee
Language: English
Instruments: Keyboard
First published: c.1794
Description: A setting of Desdemona's song in Othello.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
A poor soul sat sighing under a sycamore tree,
O willow, willow, willow.
With his hand on his bosom, his head on his knee.
O willow, willow, willow!
Sing O, the green willow shall be my garland.
He sighed in his singing, and after each groan,
O willow...
I'm dead to all pleasure, my true love is gone.
O willow...
The cold stream ran by him, his eyes wept apace,
O willow...
The salt tears fell from him, which drownèd his face.
O willow...
The mute birds sat by him, made tame by his moans,
O willow...
The salt tears fell from him, which softened the stones.
O willow...
Farewell my falsehearted; plaints end with my breath,
O willow...
Thou dost loath me: I love thee, the cause of my death.
O willow...
Original text and translations may be found at The willow song.