Thomas Billington (arr.)
(1754 - ?1832)

One day I heard Mary say
(S.A.T.B. + reduction)
Full score (PDF), €0.20 for a single copy   Buy this item
Choir offer (PDF), €1.00 for 12 copies   Buy this item
Printable cover page (PDF), €0.00 for unlimited copies   Download this item

If you have any problem obtaining a PDF, please see our help page. If that does not resolve the issue, please click here.
Page 1 of 2
For licensing/copyright information please click here
Billington issued two sets of "glees selected from the Scotch songs" in the late 1780s, to satisfy two contemporary enthusiasms: that for mixed sex social music, and that for all things North-British. The current arrangement comes from the second set.

These glees were selected from a repertoire of well-known Scottish songs that had been anthologised in the previous seventy years. Verses that are not underlaid were not included by Billington, and have been imported from external sources.
Lyrics: Robert Crawford

One day I heard Mary say
How shall I leave you?
Stay, dearest Adonis stay,
Why will thou grieve me?
Alas, my fond heart will break
If thou should leave me,
I'll live and die for thy sake,
Yet never leave thee.

Say, lovely Adonis, say
Has Mary deceived thee?
Did e'er her young heart betray
New love, that has grieved thee?
My constant mind ne'er shall stray;
Thou may believe me.
I'll love thee lad, night and day,
And never leave thee.

Adonis, my charming youth,
What can relieve thee?
Can Mary thy anguish soothe?
This breast shall receive thee.
My passion can ne'er decay,
Never deceive thee;
Delight shall drive pain away,
Pleasure revive thee.

But leave thee, leave thee, lad,
How shall I leave thee?
Oh! that thought makes me sad;
I'll never leave thee!
Where would my Adonis fly?
Why does he grieve me?
Alas. my poor heart will die,
If I should leave thee.