Under the Greenwood Tree (mp3 Sample)

As You Like It, Act II, Scene 5

Lyrics

Under the greenwood tree

Who loves to lie with me,

And turn his merry note

Unto the sweet bird's throat,


Come hither, come hither, come hither:

Here shall he see No enemy

But winter and rough weather.


Who doth ambition shun

And loves to live i' the sun,

Seeking the food he eats

And pleased with what he gets,


Come hither, come hither, come hither:

Here shall he see No enemy

But winter and rough weather.


If it do come to pass

That any man turn ass,

Leaving his wealth and ease,

A stubborn will to please,


Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame:

Here shall he see

Gross fools as he,

An if he will come to me.

About the Song

Patrick Aziz and Madge Darlington wrote this version of "Under the Greenwood Tree" for a Shakespeare at Winedale production of As You Like It in the summer of 1995.

In the play, Amiens sings the song to the ever-acerbic Jacuqes, who joins in and eventually adds his own final verse. The scene takes place at the court-in-exile in the forest of Arden, and so we've rendered it here with a rustic renaissance-fair feel.

And after building to a dancing-around-the-bonfire climax, we couldn't resist throwing in Jacques' witty putdown that follows in the text.

Track Info

Lyrics by William Shakespeare.

Music by Patrick Aziz and Madge Darlington.

Arranged by Dog Legs & Feet.

Musicians: