How can I leave thee? (Traditional)

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• (Posted 2010-04-19)  CPDL #21478:          (Sibelius 4)

Editor: Brigid Baker (submitted 2010-04-19).   Score information: Letter, 1 page, 104 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: How can I leave thee?
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Folksong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1917
Description: Of Thuringian (Germany) origin.

Original text and translations

English text

1. How can I leave thee?
How can I from thee part?
Thou only hast my heart;
Dear one, believe.
Thou has this soul of mine,
So closely bound to thine,
No other can I love,
Save thee alone!

2. Blue is a flow'ret
Called the "Forget-me-not."
Wear it upon thy heart;
And think of me!
Flow'ret and hope may die,
Yet love with us shall stay,
That cannot pass away,
Dear one, believe.

3. Would I bird were!
Soon at thy side to be,
Falcon nor hawk would fear,
Speeding to thee.
When by the fowler slain,
I at thy feet should lie,
Thou sadly shouldst complain,
Joyful I'd die.