This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Busy, curious, thirsty fly
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Busy, curious, thirsty fly by John Liptrot Hatton — Lyrics
Busy, curious, thirsty fly!
Drink with me and drink as I:
Freely welcome to my cup,
Could'st thou sip, and sip it up:
Make the most of life you may,
Life is short and wears away.
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About Busy, curious, thirsty fly
John Liptrot Hatton's secular partsong for ATTB voices, Busy, curious, thirsty fly, sets a text that reflects on the fleeting nature of life. The lyrics, originally by John Byrom, use the image of a fly drinking from a cup to draw a parallel with human existence. The composer urges the singers to convey the poem's contemplative mood, noting how quickly life passes, whether one lives for a short summer or a longer span of threescore years. The SATB arrangement allows for rich harmonic texture to support the philosophical theme.
