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GREENSLEEVES (Earliest form) 16th Century
It is rather a shock to find that the beautiful air has by careless transmission or wilful change got so degraded as finally to appear in a manuscript book of fiddle airs dated 1838, thus,—
GREENSLEEVES From a Manuscript Book, dated 1838
Other copies which have deplorably lost much of the purity of the original are to be seen in D’Urfey’s Wit and Mirth, The Beggar’s Opera and other early eighteenth century publications. This is from an edition of The Dancing Master, dated 1716:
GREENSLEEVES AND YELLOW LACE Printed 1716
We may trace a curious corruption in the tune as found in traditional usage in Ireland nearly eighty years ago. Thomas Moore employed this traditional version for his song, “Oh, could we do with this world of ours,” and published it united to his verses in his Irish Melodies, the tenth number dated 1834. He gives the tune the name of “ssss1.” The real tune which went by this title, otherwise known as “ssss1,” is to be seen in Aird’s Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. iii., Glasgow [1788], and elsewhere. It will be noticed that Moore’s tune is “ssss1,” to which is joined a part of “ssss1.” It is a notable example of the manner in which traditional tunes suffer change from imperfect remembrances or other causes.