25 Irish folksongs: No. 6 “What shall I do to shew how much I love her?”, WoO 152/6 (1810-12)

Catalogue title: 25 Irish Songs.

Scoring: 1 or 2 voices, violin, cello, piano.

Composed: 1810-12.

Individual item 6 from the corresponding collection, not the complete set.

Item in the set:...Read more

Catalogue title: 25 Irish Songs.

Scoring: 1 or 2 voices, violin, cello, piano.

Composed: 1810-12.

Individual item 6 from the corresponding collection, not the complete set.

Item in the set: Duet - What shall I do to shew how much I love her? Allegretto affettuoso (B minor).

Sung text (original language):
What shall I do to shew how much I
love her?
Thoughts that oppress me, O how can I
tell?
Will my soft passion be able to move
her?
Language is wanting, when loving so
well.
Can sighs and tears, in the silence,
betoken
Half the distress this fond bosom must
know?
Or will she melt when a true heart is
broken,
Weeping, too late, o’er her lost lover’s
woe.
Is there a grace comes not playful
before her?
Is there a virtue, and not in her train?
Is there a swain but delights to adore
her?
Pains she a heart, but it boasts of her
chain?
Could I believe she’d prevent my
undoing,
Life’s gayest fancies the hope should
renew;
Or could I think she’d be pleas’d with
my ruin,
Death should persuade her my
sorrows are true!

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