Willow, Willow, Willow by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918

The "Willow Scene" is a scene in which it is proven how different of women Desdemona and Emilia are in personality. During the scene, Desdemona and Emilia are talking about how some women may abuse their husbands, and their stances on such an idea. Desdemona is a pure-hearted being and thinks it is horrendous to cheat on your husband. Emilia, however, doesn't share the same idea. 


The Willow song is a song that Desdemona' s mother's maid, Barbary, would sing. Barbary was in love, but her love forsook her. In the scene, Desdemona was feeling the same way about Othello, because she had no idea why he was acting the way he was towards her. 


The lyrics of the song are:


The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,
Sing all a green willow.
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,
Sing willow, willow, willow.
The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur’d her moans,
Sing willow, willow, willow.
Her salt tears fell from her, and soften’d the stones;
Sing willow, willow, willow.
Sing all a green willow must be my garland.


Later, Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry  composed music to go with the song.