Robin Goodfellow (George Alexander Macfarren)

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• (Posted 2023-11-13)  CPDL #77254:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-11-13).   Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 502 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

• (Posted 2019-04-14)  CPDL #53972:         

Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2019-04-14).   Score information: A4, 6 pages, 112 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Robin Goodfellow
Composer: George Alexander Macfarren
Lyricist: Ben Jonson

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: Keyboard or a cappella

First published: 1869 in Novello Part-Song Book (2nd Series), Vol. 2, no. 62
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

1  More swift than lightning can I fly
About this airy welkin soon,
And in a minute's space descry
Each thing that's done below the moon.
There's not a hag nor ghost shall wag,
Or cry, "Ware Goblin" where I go,
But Robin I their feats will spy,
And send them home with ho ho ho.

2  Sometimes I meet them like a nun,
Sometimes an elk, sometimes a hound
Or to a horse I turn me can,
And trip and trot about them round.
But if to ride, my back they stride,
More swift than wind away I go,
O'er hedge and lands, through pools and ponds.
I whirry laughing, ho ho ho.

3  When lads and lasses merry be,
With possets and rich junkets fine,
Unseen of all the companie
I eat their cakes, and sip their wine.
And to make sport I puff and snort,
And out the candles I do blow,
And maids I kiss, They shriek "Who's this?"
I answer nought but ho ho ho.