Ragged and torn and true - Macirone, Clara Angela

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⌛ Period → Romantic

◈ Genre / Form Partsongs

♬ Voicing → SATB ¶ Language → English

Parts 4

Instruments A cappella

Pages 8

CPDL # 77293

Editor David Anderson

Posted 2023-11-14

License Personal

¶Lyrics / Text

I am a poor man, God knows, And that all my neighbours can tell; I want both money and clothes, And yet I live wondrous well: I have a contented mind, And a heart to bear out all; Tho’ Fortune, being unkind, Hath given me substance small. Then hang up sorrow and care, It never shall make me rue; What though my back go bare, I’m ragged and torn and true. “Tis good to be honest and just, Tho’ a man be never so poor; False dealers are still in mistrust, They’re afraid of the officer’s door. Their conscience doth accuse, And they quake at the noise of a bush, While he that doth no man abuse, For the law needs not care a rush. Then well fare the man that can say, “I pay every man his due; Although I go poor in array, I’m ragged and torn and true.” Old Ballad (ca. 1500)

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