Take, O take those lips away

General information

Lyricist: William Shakespeare, from Measure for Measure, Act IV scene 1. 2nd verse by John Fletcher sometimes attached.

Notes on selected settings

• Samuel Reay SATB (with 2nd verse)
• John Stafford Smith ATB (with 2nd verse)

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• George Alexander Macfarren — Take, O take those lips away  English SATB
• Charles Hubert Hastings Parry — Take, O take those lips away  English Solo Tenor
• Robert Lucas Pearsall — Take, O take those lips away  English SSTTB,SATTB
• Samuel Reay — Take, O take those lips away  English SATB
• John Stafford Smith — Take, O take those lips away  English ATB
• John Wilson — Take, O take those lips away  English Solo high

Text and translations

English text

1. Take, O take those lips away,
That so sweetly were forsworn;
And those eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mislead the morn:
But my kisses bring again;
Seals of love, but sealed in vain.

2. Hide, O hide those hills of snow,
Which thy frozen bosom bears;
On whose tops the pinks that grow
Are of those that April bears.
But first set my poor heart free,
Bound in those icy charms by thee.