By Marykirk, a sweet bird sang - Jackson of Masham, William

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"This piece is attributed to William Jackson of Masham (1815–1866) by the British Library and others, but it may have been composed by his son William Jackson (1853–1877) who also was an organist and composer and known to be from Masham. Published by Novello in 1926, an earlier publication may have existed but has not been identified."

⌛ Period → Romantic

◈ Genre / Form Partsongs

♬ Voicing → SATB ¶ Language → Lowland Scots

Parts 4

Instruments A cappella

Pages 8

CPDL # 79887

Editor David Anderson

Posted 2024-04-01

License Personal

¶Lyrics / Text

By Marykirk, a sweet bird sang When trees were green and waters clear; That sweet bird sang the hale day lang, And charm’d the hearts o’ men to hear. But down upon a flow’ry bank The wily fowler laid his snare, And in a weary prison cage The sweet bird pin’d, and sang nae mair. By Marykirk there bloom’d a flow’r, Beside the winding Esk it grew; And, oh, it charm’d the sunny light, And ilka wanton wind that blew. But rude hands pu’d that flow’r sae sweet, And fause lips kiss’d its leaves sae fair; It faded in a cheerless bow’r, And charm’d the sight o’ men nae mair. By Marykirk the birds may sing, But dowie are their notes to me; On Craigo haughs the flow’rs may bloom, But now nae mair delight my e’e. O Mary! tho’ ye did me wrang, I’m wae to think o’ your downfa’; Poor silly bird, sae eithly snar’d, Sweet flow’r, soon pu’d and flung awa’.

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