Sheep and Lambs

All in the April ev'ning,
April airs were abroad;
The sheep with their little lambs
Pass'd me by on the road.

The sheep with their little lambs,
Pass'd me by on the road,
All in the April ev'ning
I thought on the Lamb of God.

The lambs were weary and crying
With a weak human cry,
I thought on the Lamb of God
Going meekly to die.

Up in the blue, blue mountains,
Dewy pastures are sweet,
Rest for the little bodies,
Rest for the little feet.

But for the Lamb, the Lamb of God,
Up on the hilltop green,
Only a cross, a cross of shame,
Two stark crosses between.

All in the April ev'ning,
April airs were abroad;
I saw the sheep with their lambs
And thought on the Lamb of God.

by Katharine Tynan (1861-1931) , "Sheep and Lambs", from Ballads and Lyrics, published 1891

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 Campbell-Watson (1898-) , "All in the April evening", published 1954. [satb a cappella]
by John Michael Diack (1869-1946) , "All in the April evening" [sa, piano]
by Sidney Homer (1864-1953) , "Sheep and Lambs", op. 31.
by Phyllis M. James , "Sheep and Lambs", published 1921.
by Sir Hugh Stevenson Roberton (1874-1952) , "All in the April evening", published 1911 [satb a cappella], note: also set in Welsh
by Jean Taylor , "Sheep and Lambs", published 1928 [voice and piano], from New Songs for New Voices, note: text has been adapted; changes not shown

by Sir Hugh Stevenson Roberton (1874-1952) , "Yno yn hwyrddydd Ebrill", published 1911 [satb a cappella], note: also set in English

Date added to the website: 2007-06-14.

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