Songbook/Greensleeves

Chords

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=Greensleeves=

Greensleeves is an old English folk song that has been quoted in Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor (1602). This quote indicates that the song was very well known before (mid to late 16th century). The name of the Lady Greensleeves probably refers to the green puff sleeves that were fashionable in Northern England at the time.

Greensleeves

 * Strophe1


 * A-las, mylove, youdo mewrong,


 * Tocast me off dis-courteously.


 * ForI haveloved youwell andlong,


 * De-lightingin yourcompany.


 * Chorus:


 * Greensleeves wasall myjoy


 * Greensleeves wasmy delight,


 * Greensleeves was myheart ofgold,


 * Andwho but myladygreensleeves.


 * 2.
 * A-las, mylove, thatyou shouldown


 * Aheart of wantonvanity,


 * Somust Imedi-tate a-lone


 * Up-on yourinsin-cerity.


 * 3.
 * Yourvows you'vebroken,like myheart,


 * Oh,why did you so en-rapture me?


 * NowI re-main in aworld a-part


 * Butmy heart re-mains in cap-tivity.


 * 4.
 * Ifyou in-tend thusto dis-dain,


 * Itdoes the more en-rapture me,


 * Andevenso, Istill re-main


 * Aloverin cap-tivity.


 * 5.
 * I've been  readyat yourhand,


 * Togrant whateveryou would crave;,


 * Ihave bothwageredlife andland,


 * Yourlove andgood-willfor to have.


 * 6.
 * Thoucouldst de-sire noearthlything,


 * Butstill thou hadst itreadily.


 * Thymusicstill toplay andsing;


 * Andyet thouwouldst notlove me.


 * 7.
 * I bought theekerchiefsfor thyhead,


 * Thatwere wrought fine andgallantly;


 * Ikept theeat bothboard andbed,


 * Which cost mypurse well-favoredly.


 * 8.
 * I bought theepetticoatsof thebest,


 * Thecloth so fine asit might be;


 * I gave theejewelsfor thychest,


 * Andall thiscost Ispent on thee.


 * 9.
 * Thysmock ofsilk, bothfair andwhite,


 * Withgold embroideredgorgeously;


 * Thypetti-coat ofsendalright,


 * Andthese Ibought theegladly.


 * 10.
 * Mymen wereclothedall ingreen,


 * Andthey did everwait on thee;


 * Allthis wasgallantto beseen,


 * Andyet thouwouldst notlove me.


 * 11.
 * They set theeup, theytook theedown,


 * Theyserved thee with hu-mility;


 * Thy foot mightnot oncetouch theground,


 * Andyet thouwouldst notlove me.


 * 12.
 * 'Tis I willpray toGod onhigh,


 * Thatthou my constancymayst see,


 * Andthat yetonce be-fore Idie,


 * Thouwilt vouchsafe tolove me.


 * 13.
 * Ah, Greens-leeves, nowfarewell,adieu,


 * ToGod I pray toprosper thee,


 * For I amstill thylovertrue,


 * Comeonce a-gain andlove me.

Transcription
There are many variations of this song, including quite simple ones as a solo piece for the guitar. The chords in this version are based on a simple arrangement for the classical guitar. If the piece is too high (or too low), use a capo in the 5th fret. This would transpose the piece into D minor, and it may be easier to sing. Am = Dm; C = F; D = G; F = Bb; E = A Those who shy away from the Bb major can also transpose the piece to Em. This would correspond to a capo in the 7th fret. Am = Em; C = G; D = A; F = C; E = H7