Early one morning
(Edward) Benjamin Britten
Early one morning, just as the sun was rising,
I heard a maid sing in the valley below;
'O don't deceive me, O never leave me!
How could you use a poor maiden so?
'O gay is the garland, fresh are the roses
I've culled from the garden to bind on thy brow.
O don't deceive me, O do not leave me!
How could you use a poor maiden so?
'Remember the vows that you made to your Mary,
Remember the bow'r where you vow'd to be true;
O don't deceive me, O never leave me!
How could you use a poor maiden so?'
Thus sung the poor maiden, her sorrow bewailing,
Thus sung the poor maid in the valley below;
'O don't deceive me! O do not leave me!
How could you use a poor maiden so?'