The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #66367   Message #1101276
Posted By: McGrath of Harlow
25-Jan-04 - 08:31 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Earliest known English folk song
Subject: RE: Origins: Earliest known English folk song
"Sumer is Icumen in" is probably the oldest English song you are likely to actually hear anyone sing.

I've never thought of I live not where I love as sounding particularly old. I'd have guessed 19th or 18th century, though I see from a glance at earlier threads that it's got some 17th century roots.
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Looking for a favourite Tudor is a bit like looking for a favourite Don in some Mafia family. I'm sure that if Henry VIII had actually written a great song, he'd have made quite sure we all knew about it.