So early in the morning, O

I cling and swing
On a branch, or sing
Thro' the cool, clear hush of morning, O: -
Or fling my wing
On the air, and bring
To sleepier birds a warning, O: -
That the night's in flight,
And the sun's in sight,
And the dew is the grass adorning, O:
And the green leaves swing
As I sing, sing, sing,
Up by the river,
Down the dell,
To the little wee nest,
Where the big tree fell,
So early in the morning, O:-

I flit and twit
In the sun for a bit
When his light so bright is shining, O:-
Or sit and fit
My plumes, or knit
Straw plaits for the nest's nice lining, O:-
And she with glee
Shows unto me
Underneath her wings reclining, O:
And I sing that Peg
Has an egg, egg, egg,
Up by the oatfield,
Round the mill,
Past the meadow,
Down the hill,
So early in the morning, O:-

I stoop and swoop
On the air, or loop
Thro' the trees, and then go soaring, O: -
To group with a troop
On the gusty poop
While the wind behind is roaring, O: -
I skim and swim
By a cloud's red rim,
And up to the azure flooring, O: -
And my wide wings drip
As I slip, slip, slip,
Down thro' the raindrops,
Back where Peg
Broods in the nest
On the little white egg,
So early in the morning, O -

by James Stephens (1882-1950) , "The fifteen acres", from The Adventures of Seumas Beg [and] The Rocky Road to Dublin, published 1915

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Frank Bridge (1879-1941) , "So early in the morning, O", published 1918. [voice and piano]
by Geoffrey Gwyther , "So early in the morning, O", published 1921. [voice and piano]

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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