Ragged and torn and true (Clara Angela Macirone)

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• (Posted 2023-11-14)  CPDL #77293:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-11-14).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 453 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Ragged and torn and true
Composer: Clara Angela Macirone
Lyricist: Anonymous
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1879 Novello, Ewer, and Co.
Description: 

Original text and translations

English 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)