This edition was prepared by Jason Smart — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Hey trolly lolly lo
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Hey trolly lolly lo by Anonymous — Lyrics
Hey troly loly lo, mayde whether go you?
I go to the medow to mylke my cowe.
Than at the medow I wyll you mete,
To gather the floweris both fayer and swete.
R1:
Nay, God forbede, that may not be;
Iwysse my mother then shall us se.
Now in this medow fayre and grene
We may us sport and not be sene;
And yf ye wyll I shall consent.
How sey ye, mayde? be ye content?
R2:
Nay, in goode feyth,
I wyll not melle with you.
I pray you, sir, lett me go mylke my cow.
Why, wyll ye nott geve me no comfortt,
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About Hey trolly lolly lo
This secular English partsong for three voices (soprano, alto, tenor) opens with a lively, playful duet, the two upper voices engaging in a verbal sparring match. The text depicts a courtly pursuit, where a suitor attempts to entice a maiden to dally with him in a meadow. She repeatedly rebuffs his advances, citing her mother's potential disapproval and her intention to milk her cow. He persists, praising her beauty and youth, and attempting to persuade her to yield to his affections, only to be firmly rejected. The music likely reflects this dramatic tension, with the vocal lines weaving together in a way that mirrors the characters’ dialogue and the unfolding narrative.
