‘Joan’, quoth John

1. ‘Joan’, quoth John, ‘when will that be?
Tell me, when wilt thou marry me?
My cow and eke my calf and rent,
My land and all my tenement.
‖: Say, Joan, say, Joan, what wilt thou do?
I cannot, I cannot
Come eve̯rȳ*, eve̯rȳ day to woo, :‖: to woo. :‖ (×3)
‖: I cannot come eve̯rȳ day to woo, :‖ to woo.
I cannot come ‖: eve̯rȳ :‖ day ‖: to woo.’ :‖ (×4)

Second verse missing.

3. ‘John’, quoth Joan, ‘is there such hȧste?
Look ere you le͝ap, lest you make wȧste.
If hȧste you have with me to wed,
More belongs to a bride’s bed.
‖: Wherefore, wherefore thus must you do:
Day and night, day and night
Come eve̯rȳ, eve̯rȳ hour to woo, :‖: to woo. :‖ (×3)
‖: Day and night come eve̯rȳ ho͞u͞r to woo, :‖ to woo.
Day and night come ‖: eve̯rȳ :‖ hour ‖: to woo.’ :‖ (×4)

4. ‘John, if you will needs me hāve,
This is that which I do crave:
To let me hāve my will in all,
And then with thee I’ll never brawl.
‖: Say, John, say, John, shall this be so?
Then you need not, then you need not
Come eve̯rȳ, eve̯rȳ hour to woo, :‖: to woo. :‖ (×3)
‖: Then you need not come eve̯rȳ hour to woo, :‖ to woo.
Then you need not come ‖: eve̯rȳ :‖ hour ‖: to woo.’ :‖ (×4)

* For an explanation of the marks added to the letters, see Linguistic notes: English.

‹ back to Vocal classical music