The Banks of the Dee (John Clarke-Whitfeld)
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- (Posted 2022-03-06) CPDL #68260:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2022-03-06). Score information: A4, 8 pages, 498 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: The Banks of the Dee
Composer: John Clarke-Whitfeld
Lyricist: John Tait
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Glee
Language: English
Instruments: Keyboard
First published:
Description: A popular song coined in 1775, arranged and "dedicated to Miss Parke". Maria Parke was a professional singer and like her father, oboist John Parke, a stalwart of the Three Choirs Festivals. The dedication suggests that this arrangement was intended for performance as a concert glee by her at that festival.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
'Twas summer, so softly the breezes were blowing,
And sweetly the nightingale sung from a tree;
At the foot of a rock, where the river was flowing,
I sat myself down on the banks of the Dee.
Flow on lovely Dee, flow on thou sweet river,
Thy banks' purest stream shall be dear to me ever,
Where first I'd th'affection and favour of Jemmy,
The glory and pride of the banks of the Dee.
But now he's gone from me, and left me thus mourning,
To quell the proud rebels, for valiant is he;
And yet there's no hopes of his speedy returning
To wander again on the banks of the Dee,
He's gone, hapless youth, o'er the wide roaring billows,
The sweetest and kindest of all his brave fellows,
And has left me to mourn amongst these once-loved willows;
The loneliest maid on the banks of the Dee.
But time and my prayers may perhaps yet restore him;
Blest peace may restore my dear shepherd to me.
And when he comes home, with such care I'll watch o'er him,
He never shall quit the sweet banks of the Dee.
The Dee then shall flow, all its beauties displaying,
The flocks shall again on the hills be seen playing,
Whilst I and my Jemmy are carelessly straying,
And tasting again all the sweets of the Dee.