"Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song. A broadside ballad by the name "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" was registered by Richard Jones at the London Stationers' Company in September 1580, and the tune is found in several late 16th-century and early 17th-century sources, such as Ballet's MS Lute Book and Het Luitboek van Thysius, as well as various manuscripts preserved in the Seeley Historical Library in the University of Cambridge.

It would later become the basis for the Christmas carol "What Child is This?", which is actually the reason I've done the song. The context of the carol centers around the Adoration of the Shepherds who visit during the Nativity of Jesus. The questions posed in the lyrics reflect what the shepherds were possibly pondering to themselves when they encountered Jesus, with the rest of the carol providing a response to their questions.

I may not do as many Christmas arrangements as I've done in years past, but the fact of the matter is that all my scores come to me in the spur of the moment. Also, I have the very famous Peanuts Christmas special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," to thank for introducing me to this song (and several other songs used in it).

My simplified arrangement here is done for flute, piano, acoustic guitar, and classical guitar.

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This arrangement © me and me alone
Original music is now public domain
Music from the Peanuts specials written by Vince Guaraldi, and featured in the YouTube links provided.
A Charlie Brown Christmas © Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Bill Melendez Productions, and everybody else who owns the rights, and based on the Peanuts comic strip written by Charles M. Schultz, and distributed by United Feature Syndicate (October 2, 1950 – February 26, 2011); Universal Uclick/Andrews McMeel Syndication (February 27, 2011 – present)

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What Child is This? (Guaraldi): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2HFIDW8DdM
Greensleeves (Guaraldi): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHU99s793q8

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Excerpts from "A Charlie Brown Christmas": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXShaNdyRmQ (Linus explains the true meaning of Christmas)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvwybofO7UY (the kids fix the tree after Charlie Brown assumes he killed it)