Crimson Blog

About the Song

"Pastime with Good Company", also known as "The King's Ballad" ("The Kynges Balade"), is an English folk song written by King Henry VIII in the first years of the 16th century, shortly after being crowned. It is regarded as the most famous of his compositions, and it became a popular song in England and other European countries during Renaissance times.

The song is supposed to have been played in court, along with all the other of the King's compositions. However, due to its simple and catchy melody, it became a popular tune and was soon afterwards interpreted frequently at English fairs, taverns and events. It is also believed to have been one of the favourite musical pieces of Queen Elizabeth I. The song is referred to in a number of contemporary documents and publications, attesting to its popularity, and was subject of a wide number of variants and instrumental rearrangements by different musicians in the following years. In the 1548 work The Complaynt of Scotland, the anonymous author mentions "Passetyme with gude companye," as being among the popular songs within the kingdom of Scotland in the early part of the 16th century.
source

Original score of Pastime with Good Company (c. 1513)

Original Lyrics

Passetyme with gude companye,
I love, and shall until I dye.
Gruch who wyll, but none deny,
So God be pleeyd, thus lyfe wyll I.
For my pastaunce:
Hunt, syng, and daunce,
My hert ys sett!
All gudely sport,
Fore my comfort,
Who shall me lett?

Youth wyll have nedes dalyaunce,
Of gude or yll some pastaunce,
Companye me thynketh them best,
All thouts and fansyes to dygest.
For ydleness,
Ys chef mastres
Of vyces all:
Than who can say,
But myrth and play
Ys best of all?

Companye with honeste,
Ys vertu, vyce to flee.
Companye ys gude or yll,
But ev'ry man hath hys frewylle.
The best ensyue,
The worst eschew,
My mynd shall be:
Vertue to use,
Vyce to refuse,
Thus shall I use me!

Blackmoor's Night Version

I simply can't describe how much I like Blackmoor's Night songs. Almost every song they sing, every music they create/remake, it absolutely superb. I often listen to this song by Blackmoor's Night. Here's a youtube video of it. I'd really suggest you listening to a higher quality mp3 or FLAC of the version of the song in this album: Past Times with Good Company.
By the way, if you read "about the song", you'll know why it is one of the best songs ever!