There are many stories about Greensleeves. Some historical references say that Henry VIII wrote it… but it had to be someone else because it was written after he’d died. However, it was “on the charts” by Shakespeare’s time, so it’s been around for quite a while, and often appears during Christmas in the form of “What Child is This?”
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.
Alas, my love, that you should own / A heart of wanton vanity,
So must I meditate alone / Upon your insincerity.
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.
If you intend thus to disdain / It does the more enrapture me,
And even so, I still remain / A lover in captivity.
I have been ready at your hand / To grant whatever you would crave,
I have both wagered life and land / Your love and good-will for to have.
Thou couldst desire no earthly thing / But still thou hadst it readily.
Thy music still to play and sing / And yet thou wouldst not love me.
I bought thee kerchiefs for thy head / That were wrought fine and gallantly;
I kept thee at both board and bed / Which cost my purse well-favoredly.
I bought thee petticoats of the best / The cloth so fine as it might be;
I gave thee jewels for thy chest / And all this cost I spent on thee.
Thy smock of silk, both fair and white / With gold embroidered gorgeously;
Thy petticoat of sendal right / And these I bought thee gladly.
My men were clothed all in green / And they did ever wait on thee;
All this was gallant to be seen / And yet thou wouldst not love me.
They set thee up, they took thee down / They served thee with humility;
Thy foot might not once touch the ground / And yet thou wouldst not love me.
‘Tis, I will pray to God on high / That thou my constancy mayst see,
And that yet once before I die / Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me.
Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu / To God I pray to prosper thee,
For I am still thy lover true / Come once again and love me.
Greensleeves was all my joy / Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold / And who but my lady greensleeves.”
Hymn tune: GREENSLEEVES
| Twelve Handbells, C5-G6 |  |
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| C5-G6 Score Package: | $10.00 US | |
| C5-G6 Practice track: | $2.00 US | |
| Twelve Handbells, F5-C7 |  |
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| F5-C7 Score Package: | $10.00 US | |
| F5-C7 Practice track: | $2.00 US | |
| Twelve Handbells, Bb4-F6 |  |
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| Bb4-F6 Score Package: | $10.00 US | |
| Bb4-F6 Practice track: | $2.00 US | |
Also available for 8 handbells.
Purchasing this 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.
