This edition was prepared by David Fraser — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
I joy not in no earthly bliss
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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I joy not in no earthly bliss by William Byrd — Lyrics
I joy not in no earthly blisse,
I force not Cressus welth a straw:
For care I know not what it is,
I feare not Fortunes fatall law.
My mind is such as may not move,
for beautie bright nor force of love.
I wish but what I have at will,
I wander not to seeke for more:
I like the plaine I clime no hill,
in greatest stormes I sit on shore:
and laugh at them that toyle in vaine,
to get what must bee lost againe.
I kisse not where I wish to kill,
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About I joy not in no earthly bliss
William Byrd composed this exquisite SATTB setting of a secular English text during the Renaissance. The composer, one of England's greatest, was known for both his sacred and secular music. This four-part song expresses a philosophy of contentment and inner peace, rejecting worldly riches, ambition, and superficial affections. The singer finds joy not in external circumstances but in a self-sufficient state of mind, scorning those who pursue ephemeral gains and embracing a simple, unshakeable calm. Byrd’s masterful writing here captures the reflective and slightly stoic mood of the poem, creating a rich and satisfying musical experience for the choir.
