Annotation:Waters of Elle
X:1 T:Waters of Elle M:C L:1/8 R:Air B:Edward Riley – “Riley’s Flute Melodies vol. 3” (1820, No. 193) F: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/ab7b93e0-f959-0139-46b9-0242ac110002#/?uuid=277ff190-2ae4-013a-5cb8-0242ac110003 Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D d2 (3cde d3f|f>f (3age d2 {ced}cz|d2 (3cde d2B2|A>A (3ABc e2dz:| |:e2f>f g3f|e>e (3def f2-ez|f2 e>e a2 (3age|d>d e>e g2-fz|f2 e>e a2 (3age|d>d f>e e2 {fe}dz:|
WATERS OF ELLE. AKA - "Its ne sont plus." English, Air (whole time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. "Waters of Elle" is a song with words by Lady Caroline Lamb (1785-1828) by set to the tune of the French folksong "Ils ne sont plus" . The words go:
Waters of Elle! your limpid streams are flowing,
Smooth and untroubled, through the flow'ry vale; O'er your green banks once more, the wild rose blowing,
Greets the young spring, and scents the passing gale.
Here 'twas at eve, near yonder tree reposing,
One still too dear, first breathed his vows to me:
Wear this, he cried, his guileful love disclosing,
Near to thy heart, in memory of me.
Love's cherished gift, the rose hе gave, is faded;
Love's blightеd flower can never bloom again.
Weep for thy fault, in heart and mind degraded:
Weep, if thy tears can wash away the stain.
Lady Caroline was the only daughter of Lord Duncannon and his wife Lady Henrietta, daughter to the first Earl Spencer. Her nickname as a child was 'Caro' which stayed with her throughout her life. Lamb is best known for the affair that she had with Lord George Gordon Byron, and has been quoted for referring to him as: '... mad, bad, and dangerous to know.'
