Greensleeves - English Folk Song

"Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song. A broadside ballad by the name "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" was registered by Richard Jones at the London Stationer's Company in September 1580, and the tune is found in several late-16th-century and early-17th-century sources.

There is a persistent belief that Greensleeves was composed by Henry VIII for his lover and future queen consort Anne Boleyn. Boleyn allegedly rejected King Henry's attempts to seduce her and this rejection may be referred to in the song when the writer's love "cast me off discourteously". However, the piece is based on an Italian style of composition that did not reach England until after Henry's death, making it more likely to be Elizabethan in origin - despite this I still associate this song with Henry, and I produced the video in this spirit.

[GEKGanon]

Not gonna lie, Richard Jones wrote a real banger with this one. You think he would have guessed his tune would still be remembered almost 500 years later?

[billpomfret]

When a song is almost 500 years old and still sounds as wonderful as the day it was written then to say its special just doesnt quite cut it

[jamiegpersonal]

"What era of music do you like the most?"
"I like the 80s"
"Ah yes the 1980s was a great decade"
"No, the 1580s"

[eudoraaa]

I’ve been obsessed with this song since I was in year 4, I don’t remember where I first heard it, but every year since then I go through a phase where I religiously listen to Greensleeves.

[jmrodas]

I like this old English song, which has been even modified to be played in Christmas as "What Child this is?" The melody, the rhythm and the lyrics are great, and nice to listen so many years later

[iainclark]

It is a common legend that Greensleeves was written by Henry VIII for Anne Boleyn. There is no basis to this but its a nice legend. In fact, we dont know who wrote the original tune. The version most people think of as Greensleeves is the Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Greensleeves. The original tune is slightly different though recognisable.

[roundninja]

Never knew this song had lyrics. Funny that it's basically just the medieval version of "you didn't have to me off,
make out like it never happened and that we were nothing." I guess humans don't change much century to century.

[CreamdRoger]

For anyone thinking there is a mistake with the country borders, i thought the same, but then realised that in the 16th century, Wales was a part of england.

[ZuihouSuki]

Hong Kong students hear this music in listening tests and feel timeless 😂

[hectordelvalle]

I am truly taken aback about this melody. Thank you for sharing it.

[ChinaBallOfficial]

when you're doing your HKDSE Listening Paper and you hear this banger:

[Viscount_Castlereagh]

I thought it was composed by King Henry VIII also. Thanks for the educational descriptions as always.

[titanianinavvvv]

Someone in the comments said hauntingly beautiful..i couldnt find more suitable words if i tried its just truly a masterpiece

[auslander]

AH! the Mr Whippy song, always loved it.

[lance-corporal]

Starting to fall in love with the Tudor period.

[kmng]

I'm a Hong Kong people, when I was a child I knew this folk, I imagined the lives in England, every pieces of news about the UK impressed me a lot... However, I haven't got a BNO, I can't go to the UK, the flag of the UK will never be related to me again, I was upset when I heard something about Princess Diana, I concerned about things of the Royal family, but it turns out to be none of my business... Hey the UK, you don't owe the Hong Kong people, but you have to protect every promise you have made at least... I miss the old days in British Hong Kong!

[LivingCrusader]

One of the better versions I've heard.

[jeanglendinning]

one of my favorite songs that i learned in primary school

[annsidbrant]

This is a very beautiful song, almost hauntingly beautiful.

[susanhodge]

We sang this at school in the 60s, wonderful.