This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
I prithee send me back my heart
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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I prithee send me back my heart by Charles King Hall — Lyrics
I prithee send me back my heart,
Since I cannot have thine;
For if from yours you will not part,
Why, then, shouldst thou have mine?
Yet now I think on't, let it lie,
To find it were in vain;
For thou'st a thief in either eye
Would steal it back again.
Why should two hearts in one breast lie,
And yet not lodge together?
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About I prithee send me back my heart
This engaging ATBB partsong by Charles King Hall sets a witty 17th-century text exploring the paradoxes of love. The lyrics express a playful, yet sincere, longing for reciprocation, acknowledging the thief-like nature of a lover's gaze and the bewildering mysteries of the heart. The composer's setting perfectly captures the song's spirit, making it ideal for a secular concert programme. The rich harmonies and close-knit texture of the male voice parts lend themselves to a sensitive and expressive performance, suitable for a quartet or a larger male choir seeking charming and well-crafted Renaissance-style part-music.
