This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
’Twas on a Bank of Daisies sweet
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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’Twas on a Bank of Daisies sweet by John Hullah — Lyrics
THE BLACKBIRD
’Twas on a bank of daisies sweet,
A lovely maiden sigh’d;
The little lambs play’d at her feet,
While she in sorrow cried—
“Where is my love, where can he stray?”
When thus a Blackbird sung—
“Sweet, sweet, sweet, he will not stay,”
The air with music rung.
“Ah! mock me not, bold bird,” she said,
“And why, pray, tarry here?
Dost thou bemoan some youngling fled,
Or, hast thou lost thy dear?
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About ’Twas on a Bank of Daisies sweet
'Twas on a Bank of Daisies sweet is an SATB partsong by John Hullah, setting a lyrical English text. The music reflects the pastoral scene of a maiden lamenting her absent love, with a blackbird's song offering a counterpoint. The composer uses the bird's repeated, melodic call to underscore the maiden's yearning and the bittersweet nature of her situation. This piece is ideal for a spring or summer concert programme, bringing a touch of gentle, natural beauty to the choral repertoire. Its straightforward setting makes it accessible for a range of choirs seeking to explore English secular part-music from the 19th century.
