Bryd one brere

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Description

A well known English love song (c.1290–1320); the earliest surviving English secular love song with a complete lyric.

Bryd one brere, briht brid one brere, Kynd is come, of Love love to crave: blithful biryd, on me, on me thu rewe; or greyth lef greith thu me my grave.
Hic am so blthe so briht brid one brere whan I see that hende, hendest in halle. Yhe is whit of lime loveli trewe, yhe is fayr and flur of alle.
Mihte ich hire, hir at wille have, stedefast of love, loveli, trewe,
(of mi sorwe yhe may, yhe may me save), Ioye and bliss were, were me newe.

Bird on a briar, bright bird on a briar, Nature has come to beg for love from Love: Gracious lady, on me have pity; or prepare, beloved, prepare for me my grave.
I am as happy as a bright bird on a briar when I see that gracious one, most gracious in hall. She is white of limb, lovely, true, she is fair and the flower of all.
Might I have her at my own will, steadfast of love, lovely, true (of my sorrow she may me save), joy and bliss would me renew.

Katherine Christie Evans - voice, gittern
Steve Tyler - hurdy gurdy

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