"As I laye a-thynkynge" is the last poem written by " Thomas Ingoldsby" ( Richard Barham). It was set to music by the English composer

Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...

. The song was published in 1888 by Beare & Son, though may have been written in the previous year. It is a song for soprano or tenor.

Lyrics

Elgar omitted the two verses enclosed in square brackets – the fifth and sixth verses of the poem. AS I LAYE A-THYNKYNGE :As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, :Merrie sang the Birde as she sat upon the spraye! ::There came a noble Knyghte, ::With his hauberke shynynge brighte, ::And his gallant heart was lyghte, ::::Free and gaye; :As I laye a-thynkynge, he rode upon his waye. :As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, :Sadly sang the Birde as she sat upon the tree! ::There seemed a crimson plain, ::Where a gallant Knyghte lay slayne, ::And a steed with broken rein ::::Ran free, :As I laye a-thynkynge, most pitiful to see! :As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, :Merrie sang the Birde as she sat upon the boughe; ::A lovely Mayde came by, ::And a gentil youth was nyghe, ::And he breathed many a syghe ::::And a vowe; :As I laye a-thynkynge, her heart was gladsome now. :As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, :Sadly sang the Birde as she sat upon the thorne; ::No more a youth was there, ::But a Maiden rent her haire, ::And cried out in sad despaire, ::::'That I was borne!' :As I laye a-thynkynge, she perished forlorne. :[ As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, :Sweetly sang the Birde as she sat upon the briar; ::There came a lovely Childe, ::And his face was meek and mild, ::Yet joyously he smiled ::::On his sire; :As I laye a-thynkynge, a Cherub mote admire. :But I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, :And sadly sang the Birde as it perch'd upon a bier; ::That joyous smile was gone, ::And that face was white and wan, ::As the downe upon the Swan ::::Doth appear :As I laye a-thynkynge - oh! bitter flow'd the tear! ] :As I laye a-thynkynge the golden sun was sinking, :O merrie sang that Birde as it glittered on her breast ::With a thousand gorgeous dyes, ::While soaring to the skies, ::'Mid the stars she seem'd to rise, ::::As to her nest; :As I laye a-thynkynge, her meaning was exprest:- ::'Follow, follow me away, ::It boots notOld English, meaning 'It is to no advantage' to delay,'- ::'Twas so she seem'd to saye, ::::'HERE IS REST!' ::::::::::::T. I.

Notes

References

*Banfield, Stephen, ''Sensibility and English Song: Critical studies of the early 20th century'' (Cambridge University Press, 1985) *Kennedy, Michael, ''Portrait of Elgar'' (Oxford University Press, 1968)

External links

Recordings

Songs and Piano Music by Edward Elgar
Premiere recording of "As I laye a-thynkynge" performed by Amanda Pitt (soprano), with David Owen Norris (piano). {{authority control Songs by Edward Elgar 1888 songs