This song cycle is based on William Shakespeare?s poetry. The other two, ?Come Away, Death? and ?O Mistress Mine,? are based on lines from Twelfth Night.
Fun Facts:
1. Roger Quilter wrote a number of English art songs during his life, and this was one of the most popular ones.
2. The text of this song comes from William Shakespeare?s As You Like It (Act 2, Scene 7), when Lord Amiens sings to the group traveling through the forest with Duke Senior.
3. Poets, and William Shakespeare in particular, were a common source of inspiration for Quilter?s work.
"Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man?s ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.
Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That does not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remembered not.
Heigh-ho! sing."