Ye spotted snakes - Stevens, Richard John Samuel

"Stevens wrote of the 1783 version "I had some qualms upon my mind, respecting the propriety of setting the Burthen [chorus] of this Fairy Song to Music; not considering that if the poet wrote it, I need not be ashamed of setting it to music. However these qualms had got such fast hold in my mind; that in my Composition, I did did omit the Burthen." The revised version was composed and published in 1791 and received "with considerable eclat" It is difficult to see where Stevens considered the impropriety might lie."

⌛ Period → Classical ◈ Genre / Form → Glees

♯ Key A major

⁄ Time Signature 4/4

♬ Voicing → SATB

◆ Difficulty

Elementary

↕ Range A2 – F#5

¶ Language → English

Measures 71

Texture mixed texture

Parts 4

Instruments A cappella

Pages 9

CPDL # 66058

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2021-10-04

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

♫Pitch Ranges

D#4 – F#5

B3 – B4

D3 – F#4

A2 – E4

¶Lyrics / Text

Ye spotted snakes with double tongue, Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen; Newts and blind-worms, do no wrong, Come not near our fairy queen. Philomel, with melody Sing in our sweet lullaby; Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby: Never(/Neither) harm nor spell nor charm, Come our lovely lady nigh; So, good night, with lullaby. Weaving spiders, come not here; Hence, you long-legg’d spinners, hence! Beetles black, approach not near; Worm nor snail, do no offence. Philomel, with melody, etc.

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