Black-ey'd Susan (Richard Leveridge)

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  • (Posted 2012-08-27)  CPDL #27008:  Network.png
Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2012-08-27).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 69 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.

General Information

Title: Black-ey'd Susan
Composer: Richard Leveridge

Number of voices: 3vv   Voicing: TTB
Genre: SecularPartsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1774

Lyricist: John Gaycreate page
Description: Leveridge's song, written c.1720, was harmonized and recast as a glee by Hutcheson, and published in Warren's collection for 1774.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

All in the downs the fleet was moor'd,
The streamers waving in the wind;
When black-ey'd Susan came on board:
"O where shall I my true love find,
Tell me, you jovial sailors, tell me true,
Does my sweet William sail among your crew?"

William, who high upon the yard,
Rock'd with the billow to and fro,
Soon as her well-known voice he heard,
He sigh'd, and cast his eyes below:
The cord slides swiftly through his glowing hands,
And, (quick as lightning) on the deck he stands.

So the sweet lark, high pois'd in air,
Shuts close his pinions to his breast,
(If, chance, his mate's shrill call he hear)
And drops at once into her nest.
The noblest captain in the British fleet,
Might envy William's lip those kisses sweet.

"O Susan, Susan, lovely dear,
My vows shall ever true remain;
Let me kiss off that falling tear,
We only part to meet again.
Change, as ye list, ye winds; my heart shall be
The faithful compass that still points to thee.

"Believe not what the landmen say,
Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind:
They'll tell thee, sailors, when away,
In ev'ry port a mistress find.
Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so,
For thou art present wheresoe'er I go.

"If to far India's coast we sail,
Thy eyes are seen in di'monds bright,
Thy breath is Afric's spicy gale,
Thy skin is ivory, so white.
Thus ev'ry beauteous object that I view,
Wakes in my soul some charm of lovely Sue.

'Though battle call me from thy arms,
Let not my pretty Susan mourn;
Though cannons roar, yet safe from harms,
William shall to his dear return.
Love turns aside the balls that round me fly,
Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye".

The boatswain gave the dreadful word,
The sails their swelling bosom spread,
No longer must she stay aboard:
They kiss'd, she sigh'd, he hung his head.
Her less'ning boat, unwilling rows to land:
'Adieu', she cries! and wav'd her lily hand.