1980
Down by the Salley Gardens
Composed by 
David Leisner
David Leisner Text by 
William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats O Love is the Crooked Thing Song Collection
"Down by the Salley Gardens" is the first song of David Leisner's song cycle O Love is the Crooked Thing.
The audio selection features William Alvarado, baritone, and Kate Bowen, piano. The recording is from a live performance in Boston, 1998. Used with the permission of the composer.
Text
Down by the Salley Gardens
by William Butler Yeats
Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet;
She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;
But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.
In a field by the river my love and I did stand,
And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs;
But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.
Audio
“Down by the Salley Gardens” (from “O Love is the Crooked Thing”)
William Alvarado (baritone) & Kate Bowen (piano)2:06
Sheet Music
O Love Is The Crooked Thing
David Leisner
1. Down by the Salley Gardens
2. The Two Trees
3. A Drinking Song
4. The Wild Swans at Coole
5. Brown Penny
2. The Two Trees
3. A Drinking Song
4. The Wild Swans at Coole
5. Brown Penny