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Passtyme With Goode Companye
(The Kynge’s Ballade)
Written by Henry VIII This song is preserved in a manuscript now residing at the British Museum (B.M. Addl. MSS. 31,922; Addl. MSS. 5,665; MSS. Reg. Appendix 58). Both words and music are certainly written by Henry VIII of England, the royal tyrant. In the work The Complaynt of Scotland, 1548, the author mentions "Pastance with gude companye" as being among the popular songs of Scotland, in the early part of the sixteenth century. I have heard more than one version of the chords for this song. I used my favorite - the one used by Cantiga, as best I could transcribe it. Again, if someone has a better translation of the old English, please let me know and I shall include it.Am G Em
Passetyme with good companye Pass time with good company
Am G E7 Am
I love, and shall until I dye; I love and shall until I die
Am G Em
Grugge who wyll, but none deny, Groog who will, but none deny (I don't know what grugge means...)
Am G E7 Am
So God be pleesyd, this lyfe wyll I: So God be pleased, this life will I
F G C
For my pastaunce, For my past-aunce (means entertainment)
F G C
Hunt, syng, and daunce, Hunt, sing and dance (say "daunce")
G
My hert ys sett; My heart is set
F G C
All godely sport, All goodly sport
F G C
To my comfort, To my comfort
E7 Am
Who shall me lett? Who shall me lett? (lett = allow, permit)Am G Em
Youth wyll have nedes dalyaunce, Youth will have needs dalliance (say "dalli-aunce")
Am G E7 Am
Of good or yll some pastaunce, Of good or ill, some pastaunce
Am G Em
Companye me thynketh them best, Company, me thinketh them best
Am G E7 Am
All thouts and fantasyes to dygest. All thoughts and fantasies to digest.
F G C
For ydleness, For idleness
F G C
Ys chef mastres Is chief mistress
G
Of vices all: Of vices all
F G C
Then who can say, Then who can say
F G C
But passe the day But pass the day
E7 Am
Ys best of all. Is best of all.Am G Em
Company with honeste, Company with honesty
Am G E7 Am
Ys vertu and vyce to flee; Is virtue and vice to flee
Am G Em
Company ys gode or yll, Company is good or ill
Am G E7 Am
But ev'ry man hath hys frewylle; But every man hath his free will
F G C
The best I sew, The best I sew (say "soo" I think it means "say")
F G C
The worst eschew, The worst eschew (rhymes with "soo")
G
My mynd shall be: My mind shall be
F G C
Vertue to use, Virtue to use
F G C
Vyce to refuse, Vice to refuse
E7 Am
I shall use me. I shall use me.
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