This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
I loved a lass, a fair one
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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I loved a lass, a fair one by John Liptrot Hatton — Lyrics
I loved a lass, a fair one,
As fair as e'er was seen;
She was indeed a rare one,
Another Sheba Queen.
But, fool as then I was,
I thought she loved me too:
But now, alas! she's left me
Falero, lero, loo.
Her hair like gold did glister,
Each eye was like a star;
She did surpass her sister,
Which passed all others far;
The tears stood in her eyes,
Like to the morning dew:
But now, alas! she's left me
Falero, lero, loo.
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About I loved a lass, a fair one
John Liptrot Hatton's partsong I loved a lass, a fair one, is a charming example of English secular vocal music. Scored for ATTB, the piece sets a text lamenting lost love with an almost folk-like simplicity. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of an idealized beloved, describing her beauty in terms of gold, stars, and cherries, and contrasting this with the singer's current sorrow. The refrain 'But now, alas! she's left me' underscores the heartache and disillusionment that follows the initial infatuation. Hatton's setting captures the melancholic yet wistful mood of the poem, making it an engaging choice for an unaccompanied SATB choir.
