Under the greenwood tree

General information

Lyricist: William Shakespeare from As You Like It Act II, Scene V.

Settings by composers

• W. S. Fenollosa SATB
• Charles Hubert Hastings Parry T solo

Text and translations

English text 1  Under the greenwood tree who loves to lie with me, and tune his merry note unto the sweet bird's throat, Come hither come, hither come, hither come. Here shall he see no enemy, but winter and rough weather; Under the greenwood tree who loves to lie with me, and tune his merry note unto the sweet bird's throat, Oh come hither come, hither come, hither come; Who loves to lie with me, come hither me, Come hither come, hither come, Oh come! 2  Who doth ambition shun, and loves to lie with me, and seek the food he eats, well pleased with that he gets, Come hither come, hither come, hither come. Here shall he see no enemy, but winter and rough weather; Under the greenwood tree who loves to lie with me, and tune his merry note unto the sweet bird's throat, Oh come hither come, hither come, hither come; Who loves to lie with me, come hither me, Come hither come, hither come, Oh come!

German translation Unter des Laubdachs Hut Wer gerne mit mir ruht Und stimmt der Kehle Klang Zu lustger Vögel Sang: Komm geschwinde! geschwinde! Hier nagt und sticht kein Feind ihn nicht Als Wetter, Regen und Winde. Wer Ehrgeiz sich hält fern, Lebt in der Sonne gern, Selbst sucht, was ihn ernährt, Und es mit Lust verzehrt: Komm geschwinde! geschwinde! Hier nagt und sticht kein Feind ihn nicht Als Wetter, Regen und Winde.