As I laye a-thynkynge

"As I laye a-thynkynge" is the last poem written by "Thomas Ingoldsby" (Richard Barham). It was set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar.

The song was published in 1888 by Beare & Son,^[1] though may have been written in the previous year. It is a song for soprano or tenor.

Lyrics

Elgar omitted the two verses enclosed in square brackets [ ] - the fifth and sixth verses of the poem.

AS I LAYE A-THYNKYNGE

As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,

Merrie sang the Birde as she sat upon the spraye!

There came a noble Knyghte,

With his hauberke shynynge brighte,

And his gallant heart was lyghte,

Free and gaye;

As I laye a-thynkynge, he rode upon his waye.

As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,

Sadly sang the Birde as she sat upon the tree!

There seemed a crimson plain,

Where a gallant Knyghte lay slayne,

And a steed with broken rein

Ran free,

As I laye a-thynkynge, most pitiful to see!

As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,

Merrie sang the Birde as she sat upon the boughe;

A lovely Mayde came by,

And a gentil youth was nyghe,

And he breathed many a syghe

And a vowe;

As I laye a-thynkynge, her heart was gladsome now.

As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,

Sadly sang the Birde as she sat upon the thorne;

No more a youth was there,

But a Maiden rent her haire,

And cried out in sad despaire,

'That I was borne!'

As I laye a-thynkynge, she perished forlorne.

[ As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,

Sweetly sang the Birde as she sat upon the briar;

There came a lovely Childe,

And his face was meek and mild,

Yet joyously he smiled

On his sire;

As I laye a-thynkynge, a Cherub mote admire.

But I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,

And sadly sang the Birde as it perch'd upon a bier;

That joyous smile was gone,

And that face was white and wan,

As the downe upon the Swan

Doth appear

As I laye a-thynkynge - oh! bitter flow'd the tear! ]

As I laye a-thynkynge the golden sun was sinking,

O merrie sang that Birde as it glittered on her breast

With a thousand gorgeous dyes,

While soaring to the skies,

'Mid the stars she seem'd to rise,

As to her nest;

As I laye a-thynkynge, her meaning was exprest:-

'Follow, follow me away,

It boots not to delay,'-

'Twas so she seem'd to saye,

'HERE IS REST!'

T. I.

Recordings

• Songs and Piano Music by Edward Elgar Premiere recording of "As I laye a-thynkynge" performed by Amanda Pitt (soprano), with David Owen Norris (piano).

References

• Banfield, Stephen, Sensibility and English Song: Critical studies of the early 20th century (Cambridge University Press, 1985) ISBN 0-521-37944-X

• Kennedy, Michael, Portrait of Elgar (Oxford University Press, 1968) ISBN 0-19-315414-5

Notes

1. John Beare was a London-based music publisher and brother-in-law of Elgar's friend Dr. Charles Buck of Settle in Yorkshire