If you find the information here useful, please help support this project!

Author: W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907-1973)

Text collections / compilations [warning - not necessarily comprehensive]

Another Time
Delos
For the Time Being
Homage to Clip
Look, Stranger!
Poems
The Ascent of F6
The Collected Poetry of W. H. Austen
The Dog Beneath the Skin
The Double Man
The Shield of Achilles
Two songs

Texts set to music [warning - not necessarily comprehensive]

[x] indicates a placeholder for a text that is not yet in the database
* indicates that a text cannot (yet?) be displayed on this site because of its copyright status.

Note: titles are in bold and first lines are in italics.
A blue rectangle containing a language code such as ENG indicates the presence of a translation to that language. A grey rectangle such as FRE indicates a particular translation (usually one set to music) exists but is missing.

A curse (Dark was that day when Diesel) - R. Escher *
A drink man, quick! (from Delos - Songs from Mutter Courage) [x] *
F. Routh: Song of the soldier before the inn

A song for St. Cecilia's Day (In a garden shady, this holy lady ) - R. Warren *
Academic Graffiti (My first name, Wystan, rhymes with Tristan) (from Homage to Clip) - L. Smit *
All the others translate [x] *
J. Lang-Hyde: The composer
D. Hagen: Song: The Composer

Among the leaves (from The Shield of Achilles) [x] *
L. Berkeley, W. Mellers: Lauds

As I listened from a beach-chair in the shade *
N. Rorem: Their Lonely Betters

As I walked out one evening (As I walked out one evening ) - E. Lutyens, G. Gibbs *
As I walked out one evening *
R. Bennett: One evening
E. Lutyens, G. Gibbs: As I walked out one evening
N. Rorem: As I Walked Out One Evening

As it is, plenty (As it is, plenty ) - B. Britten *
As it is, plenty *
B. Britten: As it is, plenty

At peace under this mandarin, sleep, Lucina *
H. Henze: In Memoriam L. K. A. 1950-1952

At the party (Unrhymed, unrhythmical, the chatter goes) - K. Schoonenbeek *
Babies in their mothers' arms (Infants in their mothers' arms) (from The Double Man) - L. Drakeford [x] *
Ballad (O what is that sound which so thrills the ear ) *
W. Bennett: The quarry
D. Hagen: Rondo: O What is That Sound
J. Beeson: Ballad: O What Is That Sound?
R. Kreuger: O what is that sound

Ballad: O What Is That Sound? (O what is that sound which so thrills the ear ) - J. Beeson *
Ballad: O where are you going? (O where are you going? said reader to rider ) - J. Beeson *
Before this loved one [x] *
C. Duncan: The one

Calypso (Driver, drive faster and make a good run ) (from Another Time) - B. Britten *
Carry her over the water (Carry her over the water) - L. Berkeley, J. Cohn, P. Dickinson, G. Gibbs, J. Lang-Hyde, M. Horder *
Carry her over the water *
R. Swift: Epithalamium
D. Pinkham: Sing agreeably of love
L. Berkeley, J. Cohn, P. Dickinson, G. Gibbs, J. Lang-Hyde, M. Horder: Carry her over the water

Chorale after an Old French Carol (Our fathers whose creative will asked being for us all) - B. Britten [x] *
Clocks cannot tell our time of day (from The Double Man) *
L. Foss: We're late

Closing Hymn: Alive in a Moment - D. Hagen [x] *
Cunarder Waltz (You were a great Cunarder, I) - L. Clair [x] *
Dark was that day when Diesel *
R. Escher: A curse

Dear, though the night is gone (Dear, though the night is gone ) - N. Rorem, J. Lang-Hyde *
Dear, though the night is gone *
N. Rorem, J. Lang-Hyde: Dear, though the night is gone

Driver, drive faster and make a good run (from Another Time) *
B. Britten: Calypso

Elegy for J. F. K. (When a just man dies ) - I. Stravinsky *
Epilogue and Funeral March (Our hunting fathers told the story ) - B. Britten *
Epitaph on a tyrant (Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after ) - R. Smith *
Epithalamium (Carry her over the water) - R. Swift *
Europe lies in the dark *
B. Britten: Recitative and Choral

Everything is so strangely removed today (Everything is so strangely removed today) - A. Payne [x] *
Everything is so strangely removed today [x] *
A. Payne: Everything is so strangely removed today

Eyes look into the well (Eyes look into the well) - L. Berkeley, P. Dickinson, J. Lang-Hyde, R. Senator [x] *
Eyes look into the well [x] *
L. Berkeley, P. Dickinson, J. Lang-Hyde, R. Senator: Eyes look into the well

Fish in the unruffled lakes (Fish in the unruffled lakes ) - B. Britten, J. Lang-Hyde [x] *
Fish in the unruffled lakes [x] *
B. Britten, J. Lang-Hyde: Fish in the unruffled lakes

Funeral Blues (Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone ) (from The Ascent of F6) - B. Britten *
Happy ending (The silly fool, the silly fool) (from Poems) - P. Dickinson, C. Duncan [x] *
He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be *
D. Cohen: The unknown citizen

Holding the distance up before his face [x] *
J. Lang-Hyde: The traveller

How foolish the man who does not raise *
S. Barber: The praises of God

Hymn to St Cecilia (In a garden shady, this holy lady ) - B. Britten *
I cannot grow (In a garden shady, this holy lady ) - G. Gibbs, J. Lang-Hyde *
I cannot grow *
W. Graves: Song for St. Cecilia's Day
R. Warren: A song for St. Cecilia's Day
B. Britten: Hymn to St Cecilia
G. Gibbs, J. Lang-Hyde: I cannot grow

I listen to the wind (I listen to the wind) - A. Payne [x] *
I listen to the wind [x] *
A. Payne: I listen to the wind

I wanted to know (I wanted to know) - A. Payne [x] *
I wanted to know [x] *
A. Payne: I wanted to know

If I could tell you (Time will say nothing but I told you so) - R. Escher *
In a garden shady, this holy lady *
W. Graves: Song for St. Cecilia's Day
R. Warren: A song for St. Cecilia's Day
B. Britten: Hymn to St Cecilia
G. Gibbs, J. Lang-Hyde: I cannot grow

In Memoriam L. K. A. 1950-1952 (At peace under this mandarin, sleep, Lucina) - H. Henze *
In Memory of W.B. Yeats I - E. Maconchy [x] *
In Memory of W.B. Yeats II - E. Maconchy [x] *
Infants in their mothers' arms (from The Double Man) [x] *
L. Drakeford: Babies in their mothers' arms

Into me he breathed his spirit (Into me he breathed his spirit) - A. Payne [x] *
Into me he breathed his spirit [x] *
A. Payne: Into me he breathed his spirit

Invocation to Ariel (Sing, Ariel, sing ) (from For the Time Being) - J. Rimmer [x] *
It's farewell to the drawing room's civilised cry *
B. Britten: Scherzo - Dance of Death

Johnny (O the valley in the summer where I and my John ) (from Another Time) - B. Britten, M. Horder *
Lauds (Among the leaves) (from The Shield of Achilles) - L. Berkeley, W. Mellers [x] *
Lay your sleeping head, my love (Lay your sleeping head, my love) - H. Henze *
Lay your sleeping head, my love *
M. Horder: Lullaby (Lay your sleeping head, my love)
H. Henze: Lay your sleeping head, my love

Leap before you look (The sense of danger ) - L. Talma [x] *
Let the florid music praise (Let the florid music praise ) (from Look, Stranger!) - D. Pinkham, P. Dickinson *
Let the florid music praise (from Look, Stranger!) *
B. Britten: Let the florid music praise!
D. Pinkham, P. Dickinson: Let the florid music praise

Liebe l'amour amor amoris *
B. Britten: Tell me the truth about love

Like a dream (This lunar beauty ) (from Poems) - J. Lang-Hyde *
Little fellow, you're amusing (from Two songs) [x] *
F. Routh: Song of the ogres

Look stranger, at this island now (Look, stranger, at this island now ) (from Look, Stranger!) - P. Dickinson *
Look, stranger, at this island now (from Look, Stranger!) *
J. Stevens: Look Stranger at this Island now
D. Pinkham, N. Small: Look, stranger, at this island now
B. Britten, M. Burtch: Seascape
P. Dickinson: Look stranger, at this island now

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well *
N. Rorem: The more loving one

Lullaby (Lay your sleeping head, my love) (Lay your sleeping head, my love) - M. Horder *
May my heart's disquiet never vanish (May my heart's disquiet never vanish) - A. Payne [x] *
May my heart's disquiet never vanish [x] *
A. Payne: May my heart's disquiet never vanish

My first name, Wystan, rhymes with Tristan (from Homage to Clip) *
M. Bialosky: Seven Academic Graffiti
L. Smit: Academic Graffiti

My second thoughts (My second thoughts condemn ) (from The Collected Poetry of W. H. Austen) - P. Dickinson [x] *
My second thoughts condemn (My second thoughts condemn ) (from The Collected Poetry of W. H. Austen) - L. Drakeford [x] *
My second thoughts condemn (from The Collected Poetry of W. H. Austen) [x] *
L. Drakeford: My second thoughts condemn
P. Dickinson: My second thoughts

Night covers up the rigid land (Night covers up the rigid land ) - B. Britten *
Night covers up the rigid land *
B. Britten: Night covers up the rigid land

Nocturne (Now through night's caressing grip ) (from The Dog Beneath the Skin) - B. Britten *
Not to be born - M. Horder [x] *
Now it is summer morning (Now it is summer morning) - A. Payne [x] *
Now it is summer morning [x] *
A. Payne: Now it is summer morning

Now the leaves are falling fast (Now the leaves are falling fast) - B. Britten, J. Lang-Hyde *
Now the leaves are falling fast *
B. Britten, J. Lang-Hyde: Now the leaves are falling fast

Now through night's caressing grip (from The Dog Beneath the Skin) *
B. Britten: Nocturne

O ear whose creatures cannot wish to fall *
W. Graves: Song for St. Cecilia's Day
R. Warren: A song for St. Cecilia's Day
B. Britten: Hymn to St Cecilia
G. Gibbs, J. Lang-Hyde: I cannot grow

O lift your little pinkie [x] *
B. Britten: Shepherd's carol

O tell me the truth about love (Some say that Love's a little boy ) *
B. Britten: Tell me the truth about love

O the valley in the summer (O the valley in the summer where I and my John ) (from Another Time) - J. Lang-Hyde *
O the valley in the summer where I and my John (from Another Time) *
J. Lang-Hyde: O the valley in the summer
B. Britten, M. Horder: Johnny

O what is that sound (O what is that sound which so thrills the ear ) - R. Kreuger *
O what is that sound which so thrills the ear *
W. Bennett: The quarry
D. Hagen: Rondo: O What is That Sound
J. Beeson: Ballad: O What Is That Sound?
R. Kreuger: O what is that sound

O where are you going (O where are you going? said reader to rider ) - N. Rorem *
O where are you going? said reader to rider *
J. Beeson: Ballad: O where are you going?
N. Rorem: O where are you going

One circumlocution - L. Segerstam [x] *
One evening (As I walked out one evening ) - R. Bennett *
Orpheus - L. Segerstam [x] *
Our fathers whose creative will asked being for us all [x] *
B. Britten: Chorale after an Old French Carol

Our hunting fathers told the story *
B. Britten: Epilogue and Funeral March

Out on the lawn I lie in bed (Out on the lawn I lie in bed ) - B. Britten *
Out on the lawn I lie in bed *
B. Britten: Out on the lawn I lie in bed

Over the heather (Over the heather the wet wind blows ) (from Another Time) - P. Dickinson, J. Lang-Hyde *
Over the heather the wet wind blows (from Another Time) *
P. Dickinson, J. Lang-Hyde: Over the heather
A. Harvey: Roman Wall Blues

Pangur, white Pangur *
S. Barber: The monk and his cat

Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after *
D. Hagen: Song: Epitaph on a Tyrant
R. Smith: Epitaph on a tyrant

Petition (Sir, no man's enemy, forgiving all ) (from Poems) - M. Saffle *
Poem (Our hunting fathers told the story ) *
B. Britten: Epilogue and Funeral March

Prologue (They are our past and our future; the poles between ) - B. Britten *
Recitative and Choral (Europe lies in the dark ) - B. Britten *
Refugee Blues (Say this city has ten million souls ) - E. Lutyens *
Rimbaud (The nights, the railway-arches, the bad sky) - H. Henze *
Roman Wall Blues (Over the heather the wet wind blows ) (from Another Time) *
P. Dickinson, J. Lang-Hyde: Over the heather
A. Harvey: Roman Wall Blues

Rondo: O What is That Sound (O what is that sound which so thrills the ear ) - D. Hagen *
Say this city has ten million souls *
E. Lutyens: Refugee Blues

Scherzo - Dance of Death (It's farewell to the drawing room's civilised cry ) - B. Britten *
Scherzo: In Moments of Joy - D. Hagen [x] *
Seascape (Look, stranger, at this island now ) (from Look, Stranger!) - B. Britten, M. Burtch *
Seaside (Look, stranger, at this island now ) (from Look, Stranger!) *
J. Stevens: Look Stranger at this Island now
D. Pinkham, N. Small: Look, stranger, at this island now
B. Britten, M. Burtch: Seascape
P. Dickinson: Look stranger, at this island now

Seen when night is silent (Seen when night is silent) (from The Dog Beneath the Skin) - J. Lang-Hyde [x] *
Seen when night is silent (from The Dog Beneath the Skin) [x] *
J. Lang-Hyde: Seen when night is silent

Seven Academic Graffiti (My first name, Wystan, rhymes with Tristan) (from Homage to Clip) - M. Bialosky *
She looked over his shoulder (from The Shield of Achilles) POL *
B. Kelly: The shield of Achilles

Shepherd's carol (O lift your little pinkie ) - B. Britten [x] *
Sing agreeably of love (Carry her over the water) - D. Pinkham *
Sing, Ariel, sing (from For the Time Being) [x] *
J. Rimmer: Invocation to Ariel

Sir, no man's enemy, forgiving all (from Poems) *
M. Saffle: Petition

Some day you will be one of those who lived long ago (Some day you will be one of those who lived long ago) - A. Payne [x] *
Some day you will be one of those who lived long ago [x] *
A. Payne: Some day you will be one of those who lived long ago

Some say that Love's a little boy *
B. Britten: Tell me the truth about love

Song (Warm are the still and lucky miles ) (from Another Time) *
R. Escher, R. Senator: Warm are the still and lucky miles

Song (Let the florid music praise ) (from Look, Stranger!) *
B. Britten: Let the florid music praise!
D. Pinkham, P. Dickinson: Let the florid music praise

Song (As I walked out one evening ) *
R. Bennett: One evening
E. Lutyens, G. Gibbs: As I walked out one evening
N. Rorem: As I Walked Out One Evening

Song: Epitaph on a Tyrant (Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after ) - D. Hagen *
Song for St. Cecilia's Day (In a garden shady, this holy lady ) - W. Graves *
Song of the ogres (Little fellow, you're amusing) (from Two songs) - F. Routh [x] *
Song of the soldier before the inn (A drink man, quick!) (from Delos - Songs from Mutter Courage) - F. Routh [x] *
Song: The Composer (All the others translate ) - D. Hagen [x] *
Stop all the clocks (Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone ) (from The Ascent of F6) - N. Rorem, N. Rorem, B. Roe, M. Horder, W. Davies *
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone (Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone ) (from The Ascent of F6) - T. Southam *
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone (from The Ascent of F6) *
N. Rorem, N. Rorem, B. Roe, M. Horder, W. Davies: Stop all the clocks
B. Britten: Funeral Blues
T. Southam: Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone

Such a day of sweetness (Such a day of sweetness) - J. Vlijmen [x] *
Such a day of sweetness [x] *
J. Vlijmen: Such a day of sweetness

Summer Night (Out on the lawn I lie in bed ) *
B. Britten: Out on the lawn I lie in bed

Tarcza Achillesa - Z. Bargielski [x]
Tell me the truth about love (Some say that Love's a little boy ) - B. Britten *
That night when joy began (That night when joy began ) - J. Lang-Hyde [x] *
That night when joy began [x] *
J. Lang-Hyde: That night when joy began

The composer (All the others translate ) - J. Lang-Hyde [x] *
The decoys (There are some birds) - J. Rimmer [x] *
The dream (Dear, though the night is gone ) *
N. Rorem, J. Lang-Hyde: Dear, though the night is gone

The garrison - D. Hagen [x] *
The monk and his cat (Pangur, white Pangur) - S. Barber *
The more loving one (Looking up at the stars, I know quite well ) - N. Rorem *
The nights, the railway-arches, the bad sky *
H. Henze: Rimbaud

The one (Before this loved one) - C. Duncan [x] *
The praises of God (How foolish the man who does not raise) - S. Barber *
The quarry (O what is that sound which so thrills the ear ) - W. Bennett *
The sense of danger [x] *
L. Talma: Leap before you look

The shield of Achilles (She looked over his shoulder ) (from The Shield of Achilles) POL *
B. Kelly: The shield of Achilles

The silly fool, the silly fool (from Poems) [x] *
P. Dickinson, C. Duncan: Happy ending

The spear has been cast (The spear has been cast) - A. Payne [x] *
The spear has been cast [x] *
A. Payne: The spear has been cast

The sun shines down (The sun shines down) - B. Britten [x] *
The sun shines down [x] *
B. Britten: The sun shines down

The traveller (Holding the distance up before his face ) - J. Lang-Hyde [x] *
The Twelve (Without arms or charm of culture ) - W. Walton *
The unknown citizen (He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be ) - D. Cohen *
Their Lonely Betters (As I listened from a beach-chair in the shade) - N. Rorem *
There are some birds [x] *
J. Rimmer: The decoys

They are our past and our future; the poles between *
B. Britten: Prologue

This lunar beauty (This lunar beauty ) (from Poems) - J. Rimmer *
This lunar beauty (from Poems) *
J. Rimmer: This lunar beauty
J. Lang-Hyde: Like a dream

Three songs for St. Cecilia's Day (In a garden shady, this holy lady ) *
W. Graves: Song for St. Cecilia's Day
R. Warren: A song for St. Cecilia's Day
B. Britten: Hymn to St Cecilia
G. Gibbs, J. Lang-Hyde: I cannot grow

Time will say nothing but I told you so *
R. Escher: If I could tell you

To lie flat on the back (To lie flat on the back with the knees flexed ) (from Look, Stranger!) - B. Britten *
To lie flat on the back with the knees flexed (from Look, Stranger!) *
B. Britten: To lie flat on the back

Underneath an abject willow (Underneath the abject willow ) (from Look, Stranger!) - J. Cohn, L. Drakeford [x] *
Underneath an abject willow (from Look, Stranger!) [x] *
B. Britten, T. Southam, B. Britten: Underneath the abject willow
J. Cohn, L. Drakeford: Underneath an abject willow

Underneath the abject willow (Underneath the abject willow ) (from Look, Stranger!) - B. Britten, T. Southam, B. Britten [x] *
Underneath the abject willow (from Look, Stranger!) [x] *
B. Britten, T. Southam, B. Britten: Underneath the abject willow
J. Cohn, L. Drakeford: Underneath an abject willow

Unrhymed, unrhythmical, the chatter goes *
K. Schoonenbeek: At the party

Variations: Orpheus - D. Hagen [x] *
Warm are the still and lucky miles (Warm are the still and lucky miles ) (from Another Time) - R. Escher, R. Senator *
Warm are the still and lucky miles (from Another Time) *
R. Escher, R. Senator: Warm are the still and lucky miles

We're late (Clocks cannot tell our time of day ) (from The Double Man) - L. Foss *
What did I experience that evening (What did I experience that evening) - A. Payne [x] *
What did I experience that evening [x] *
A. Payne: What did I experience that evening

What's in your mind? (What's in your mind, my dove, my coney? ) - B. Britten [x] *
What's in your mind, my dove, my coney? (What's in your mind, my dove, my coney? ) - L. Berkeley [x] *
What's in your mind, my dove, my coney? [x] *
B. Britten: What's in your mind?
L. Berkeley: What's in your mind, my dove, my coney?
P. Dickinson: What's on your mind, my dove, my coney?

What's on your mind, my dove, my coney? (What's in your mind, my dove, my coney? ) - P. Dickinson [x] *
When a just man dies *
I. Stravinsky: Elegy for J. F. K.

When you're feeling like expressing your affection (When you're feeling like expressing your affection ) - B. Britten *
When you're feeling like expressing your affection *
B. Britten: When you're feeling like expressing your affection

Without arms or charm of culture *
W. Walton: The Twelve

You were a great Cunarder, I [x] *
L. Clair: Cunarder Waltz

[x] indicates a placeholder for a text that is not yet in the database
* indicates that a text cannot (yet?) be displayed on this site because of its copyright status.