(high g g g d d# a; low g g g c# d g) (G G° A, G G° B°|G/D G)
C F° C (trill a g)
The Nightingale sighed for the moon's bright ray
Am E7 (trill b c#)
And told his tale in his own melodious way!
C7/E F (G7/D C) G
He sang "Ah, well-a-day!"
Em/G G7 C
ALL He sang "Ah, well-a-day!"
The lowly vale for the mountain vainly sighed,
To his humble wail the echoing hills replied.
They sang "Ah, well-a-day!"
ALL They sang "Ah, well-a-day!"
RECITITIVO:
C (B°)
I know the value of a kindly chorus,
E7 Am
But choruses yield little consolation
F Bb° F A
When we have pain and sorrow too before us!
(Dm) A° G
I love -- and love, alas, above my station!
G+ Em G7
BUT (aside). He loves -- and loves a lass above his station!
B7 B° A°
ALL (aside). Yes, yes, the lass is much above his station!
[Natural key would be E]
(C B° C G7 G° C, G7 C) or, (low c, < c b a g f# f e g f e c b d c# d e c)
C G7
A maiden fair to see, the pearl of minstrelsy,
Dm/A C/G G
A bud of blushing beauty;
7 C A7 Dm E7/G#
For whom proud nobles sigh, and with each other vie
Am G/D D7 G
To do her menial's duty.
G/D D G (or: d highd, c b a a g)
ALL: To do her menial's duty.
7 F° C6 C C5b C
A suitor, lowly born, with hopeless passion torn,
G7 C° C
And poor beyond denying,
7 F
Has dared for her to pine at whose exalted shrine
Am/E E7 Am
A world of wealth is sighing.
C Am E7 Am G7
ALL. A world of wealth is sighing.
C G
Unlearned he in aught save that which love has taught
Am Dm C G
(For love had been his tutor);
7 C/E A7 G7/D D°
Oh, pity, pity me--our captain's daughter she,
C/G D G7 Am
And I that lowly suitor!
Oh, pity, pity me--our captain's daughter she,
D7/G G7 C (C B° C G7 G° C, G7 C) or, (low c, c b a g f# f e g f e c, b d c# d e c)
And he that lowly suitor!
G&S
sj