Annotation:Begone Dull Care
X:1 T:Begone dull care M:6/8 L:1/8 R:Air Q:"Slow" B:Aird – Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs (vol. 4, 1796, No. 173, p. 65) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D A|d3e3|f3-f2g|a>ba gfg|f3-f2A|d3e3|f3-f2g/g/|f>gf ede|d3-d2:| |:f/g/|a2a a2f|g2g g2e|f2f fed|!fermata!f3 e2A/A/|d3e3|f3-f2g|f>gf ede|d3 d2:|]
BEGONE DULL CARE. English, Scottish; Air and Country Dance Tune (6/8 time). England; Northumberland, Yorkshire, East Anglia. D Major (Kerr, Howe/2nd Part, O'Farrell): C Major (Howe). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The song "Begone Dull Care" dates to at least the reign of James VII and II (r.1685-89) but it is believed to be based on a French chanson that predates this. The title appears in Henry Robson's list of popular Northumbrian song and dance tunes, which he wrote c. 1800.
Begone dull care, I prithee be gone from me!
Begone dull care you and I shall never agree.
Long time hast thou been tarrying here and feign thou wouldst me kill.
But in faith, dull care, thou never shalt have thy will.
20th century composer Benjamin Britten arranged the tune Selections From Friday Afternoons, Op. 7.
