Without question: Greensleeves.
In the mid 1800s Mr William Chatterton Dix plagiarized the melody for What Child Is This and the original song, by a writer unknown but speculated to be a poem by King Henry the 8th for a future bride (Anne Boleyn), later put to a melody, is now lost to another lyric. I think Mr Dix owes the art form an apology. Call it a doubly sad song for we've also lost a composition that would have otherwise stood the test of time.
Greensleeves
Alas my love you do me wrong
To cast me off discourteously;
And I have loved you oh so long
Delighting in your company.
(Chorus)
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
Additional Verses -
I have been ready at your hand
To grant whatever thou would'st crave;
I have waged both life and land
Your love and goodwill for to have.
Your vows you've broken, like my heart
Oh, why did you so enrapture me?
Now I remain in a world apart
But my heart remains in captivity
I have been ready at your hand
To grant whatever you would crave
I have both wagered life and land
Your love and good-will for to have
If you intend thus to disdain
It does the more enrapture me
And even so, I still remain
A lover in captivity
My men were clothed all in green
And they did ever wait on thee;
All this was gallant to be seen
And yet thou wouldst not love me
Thou couldst desire no earthly thing
But still thou hadst it readily
Thy music still to play and sing;
And yet thou wouldst not love me
Well, I will pray to God on high
That thou my constancy mayst see
And that yet once before I die
Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me
Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu
To God I pray to prosper thee
For I am still thy lover true
Come once again and love me
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