Had I a heart for falsehood framed - John Clarke-Whitfeld

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"Clarke-Whitfeld expanded a song to five voices with (optional) accompaniment, for use aa a glee. Traditionally, glees were sung unaccompanied, and Clarke-Whitfeld's own reduction may be intended for practice purposes only. The song is taken from Sheridan's pastiche opera "The Duenna"; the tune selected by Thomas Linley (or his son, Thomas the younger) as a vehicle for the words is the then popular "Gramachree Molly", an Irish (or possibly Scottish) air."

⌛ Period → Romantic ◈ Genre / Form → Glees ♬ Voicing → SSATB ¶ Language → English

Parts 5

Instruments Keyboard

Pages 3

CPDL # 86215

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2025-08-05

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

¶Lyrics / Text

Had I a heart for falsehood framed I ne'er could injure you; For, though your tongue no promise claimed, Your charms would make me true. To you no soul shall bear deceit, No stranger offer wrong, But friends in all the aged you'll meet, And lovers in the young. But when they learn that you have bless'd Another with your heart, They'll bid aspiring passions rest And act another part; Then, Lady, fear nor dread deceit, Nor fear to suffer wrong, For friends in all the aged you'll meet, And brothers in the young.