Sir Degare — David Whyatt Composer

Sir Degaré (2021)

This piece was inspired by a 14th century Breton lai (medieval romance), of about 1,100 lines, that was first attested to in the Auchinlek manuscript, thought to have been compiled around 1330.

lyrics
These lyrics were written by the composer:

Sop: There was a knight, Sir Degaré,
His origins a mystery,
Left at birth on a doorstep,
All alone.
When he became a man and strong,
He wander’d far and wide,
Searching for what he had lost,
Until one day his mother he found,
She gave him a sword,
That his father would know him by,
He rode forth.
Bar: The night is cold, the forest dark,
I need warmth and shelter,
A castle is yonder,
Perhaps there I’ll find…
Sop: Who is this knight?
Bar: Fair maid, I am Sir Degaré.
Sop: He does not belong here.
Bar: Why does she ignore me?
Sop: I will ignore him,
He does not belong here.
Bar: I do not belong here,
The harp makes me sleep.
Sop: Go to sleep!
Go to sleep!
Sop: Sir knight you must awake,
It is dawn, will you help me?
A knight comes who wishes to,
Take me away by force!
Bar: I will deal with this!
I will take my sword!
And this vile knight,
I will slay!
Sop: Sir Degaré,
You have slain the dreadful knight,
My land, my body, is yours,
Please stay!
Bar: I cannot stay.
Sop: But you belong here.
Bar: I must my father find.
Sop: Must your father find?
You will return.
Bar: I will return.
Sop For I know you belong!
Bar: For I know I belong!