H. Leslie Adams: Nightsongs (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)

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2. Drums of Tragedy

Language: English

Authorship

(James Mercer) Langston Hughes (1902-1967)


Beat the drums of tragedy for me
 [ ... ]

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3. The heart of a woman

Language: English

Authorship

Georgia Douglas Johnson (1880-1966)

The Book of American Negro Poetry

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The heart of a woman goes forth with the dawn
As a lone bird, soft winging so restlessly on.
Afar o'er life's turrets and vales does it roam.
In the wake of those echoes, the heart calls home.

The heart of a woman falls back with the night
And enters some alien cage in its plight,
And tries to forget it has dreamed of the stars
While it breaks, breaks on the sheltering bars.

4. Night Song

Language: English

Authorship

Clarissa M. Scott Delany (1901-1927)


The night was made for rest and sleep
 [ ... ]

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5. Since You Went Away

Language: English

Authorship

James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938)

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Seems lak to me de stars don't shine so bright,
Seems lak to me de sun done loss his light,
Seems lak to me der's nothin' goin' right,
Sence you went away.

Seems lak to me de sky ain't half so blue,
Seems lak to me dat ev'ything wants you,
Seems lak to me I don't know what to do,
Sence you went away.

Seems lak to me dat ev'ything is wrong,
Seems lak to me de day's jes twice as long,
Seems lak to me de bird's forgot his song,
Sence you went away.

Seems lak to me I jes can't he'p but sigh,
Seems lak to me ma th'oat keeps gittin' dry,
Seems lak to me a tear stays in my eye,
Sence you went away.

6. Creole Girl

Language: English

Authorship

Leslie Morgan Collins


When you dance, do you think of Spain,
Purple skirts and clipping castanets,
Creole Girl?
When you laugh, do you think of France,
Golden wine and mincing minuets,
Creole Girl?
When you sing, do you think of young America,
Grey guns and battling bayonets?
When you cry, do you think of Africa,
Blue nights and casual canzonets?
When you dance, do you think of Spain,
Purple skirts and clipping castanets,
Creole Girl?