The Angler’s song (Charles Villiers Stanford)

Music files

L E G E N D

Disclaimer

How to download

ICON	SOURCE
	Pdf
	Mp3
	File details
	Help

• (Posted 2024-03-08)  CPDL #79445:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2024-03-08).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 529 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: The Angler’s song
Composer: Charles Villiers Stanford
Lyricist: John Chalkhill
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1911 The Year Book Press
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

O the gallant Fisher’s life,
It is the best of any!
‘T is full of pleasure, void of strife,
And ‘t is beloved by many;
Other joys
Are but toys;
Only this
Lawful is;
For our skill
Breeds no ill,
But content and pleasure.

In a morning up we rise,
Ere Aurora’s peeping;
Drink a cup to wash our eyes,
Leave the sluggard sleeping,
Then we go
To and fro
With our knacks
At our backs
To such streams
As the Thames,
If we have the leisure.

We have gentles in a horn,
We have paste and worms too;
We can watch both night and morn,
Suffer rain and storms too;
None do here
Use to swear:
Oaths do fray
Fish away;
We sit still,
And watch our quill:
Fishers must not wrangle.

Or we sometimes pass an hour
Under a green willow,
That defends us from a shower,
Making earth our pillow;
Where we may
Think and pray,
Before death
Stops our breath;
Other joys
Are but toys,
And to be lamented.