Greensleeves - traditional English song

Handsome, gifted and recently married to Catherine of Aragon, King Henry VIII was the envy of Europe when he penned 35 royal compositions in the early years of his long and turbulent reign. (Thirty-five Compositions Ref: E1801 The complete secular works of King Henry VIII consisting of partsongs and instrumental consorts. Publisher Stainer & Bell)
Truly a Renaissance prince, he was also a gifted composer who excelled in portraying the pleasures of courtly life through words and music. His daughter, Elizabeth, inherited his gifts, and was a keen dancer and an excellent performer on the virginals.

"Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song and tune, basically a ground of the form called a romanesca.
A widely-believed (but completely unproven) legend is that it was composed by King Henry VIII of England (1491-1547) for his lover and future queen consort Anne Boleyn. Anne, the youngest daughter of Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, rejected Henry's attempts to seduce her. This rejection is apparently referred to in the song, when the writer's love "cast me off discourteously." It is not known if the legend is true, but the song is still commonly associated with Boleyn in the public mind.


Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long,
Delighting in your company.


Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady , Greensleeves.

Your vows you've broken, like my heart,
Oh, why did you so enrapture me?
Now I remain in a world apart
But my heart remains in captivity.


Well I will pray, I will pray to God
that thou my constancy mayst see,
For I am still thy lover true
Oh come once again and love me

Singer : Litsa Skartsatou - soprano - Athens - Greece

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Greensleeves
• traditional
• folk song
• english folk song
• King Henry VIII
• Anne Boleyn
• England
• United Kingdom
• Queen
• King
• sixteenth century
• amazing
• celtic
• UK
• orchestra
• Anna Bolena
• Litsa Skartsatou

[HungDuongg]

I love your beautiful voice. Please keep singing like this so I can enjoy such talent.

[Phaidra69]

@HungDuongg Thank you very much for your kind comment ! Be sure that I will follow your advice , because the music is a very big part of my life !! The most important !

[egyptia2009]

Who is the singer ?

[Phaidra69]

@egyptia2009 the singer is me , the user Phaidra69 from Greece, who has uploaded the song and my real name is Litsa Skartsatou .

[Klinossophistis]

Ὅλα αὐτὰ ποὺ μοῦ ἔστειλες, μπορῶ νὰ τὰ μεταφέρω, μὲ τὴν ἄδειά σου, στὸ: γιὰ γοῦστα ἐκλεκτὰ, χορὸς, τραγοῦδι...ἐδῶ εἴμαστε;

Ὡς συλλεγμένα ἀπὸ ἐσένα βέβαια.

[Phaidra69]

@Klinossophistis φυσικά και μπορείς ! μεγάλη μου χαρά και καλή ακρόαση ! :)))

[Memnoch67]

This song was written for Anne Boleyn by the entertainers in king Henry VIII,s court.

Someone asked who cares? History cares. Henry later had her be-headed for her opinions on religion.

[Riseofshano]

Who cares who wrote and performed it... its Epic.

[shimonvega]

OH MY GOD ;;WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VOICE...

[giorgosntoulos2]

Μπράβο τώρα μαθαίνω το "Ο μικρός Χριστός" είμαι δευτεροετής στη κιθάρα και μου φαίνεται δυσάρεστο το ότι δεν υπάρχει αυτή η version μιας τόσο ενδιαφέρουσας μελωδίας.

[ben117williamsco]

Such a beautiful version of this song, very emotional really speaks out to you, keep it up you have a real talent.

[A5981]

You have such an amazing voice, it fits Greensleeves so well, a wonderful melody goes well with a picturesque voice! ^^

[egyptia2009]

whats the Orchestra ?

Whats the key of the song ?

( I usually play it in C Major or in E Major )

[egyptia2009]

@Phaidra69 have you making an album ?

[Hummmminify]

Lovely images! Great singing too.