Let happy lovers fly (John Stafford Smith)
Music files
| ICON | SOURCE |
|---|---|
 |
Web Page |
 |
File details |
 |
Help |
- (Posted 2021-10-04) CPDL #66071:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2021-10-04). Score information: A4, 12 pages, 591 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Includes a keyboard reduction of the a cappella choral score. Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: Let happy lovers fly
Composer: John Stafford Smith
Lyricist: Tobias Smollett
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: ATTB
Genre: Secular, Glee
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
First published: 1774
Description: This glee gained a Catch Club prize medal in 1774.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Let happy lovers fly where pleasures call,
With festive songs beguile the fleeting hour,
Lead beauty through the mazes of the ball,
Or press her wanton in love's roseate bow'r.
For me. I'll range th'empurpled mead no more,
Where shepherds pipe and virgins dance around;
Nor wander through the woodbine's fragrant shade,
To hear the music of the woods resound.
But leagued with hopeless anguish and despair,
Awhile in silence drop a tear;
Then with a long farewell to love and care,
To kindred dust my weary limbs resign.
Wilt thou, Monimia, shed a gracious tear
On the cold grave where all my sorrows rest?
Wilt thou strew flow'rs, applaud my love sincere,
And bid the turf lie light upon my breast?