Jackson was a pupil of John Travers, and wrote canzonets and elegies after the model established by Travers, close to, but separate from, the glee tradition. He was organist of Exeter Cathedral and a theorist on music. A friend of Thomas Gainsborough, he corresponded with him on the subject of aesthetics.

This piece is an adaptation and expansion of a song by Thomas Arne, published in Jacksons's vocal quartets, Op. XI.

Lyrics: William Shakespeare

Where the bee sucks there lurk I,
In a cowslip's bell I lie,
There I crouch when owls do cry,
On a bat's back do I fly
After sunset merrily.
Merrily, merrily shall I live now,
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.

All we fairies that do run
By the triple Hecate's beam,
From the presence of the sun,
Follow darkness as a dream.

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough briar,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire.