Row gently here

Row gently here,
My gondolier,
Gently, gently!
So softly wake the tide,
That not an ear on earth may hear
But hers to whom we glide.
Had Heaven but tongues to speak, as well
As starry eyes to see,
Oh, think what tales 'twould have to tell
Of wand'ring youths like me!
Gently!

Now rest thee here,
My gondolier,
Hush, hush, for up I go,
To climb yon light
Balcony's height
While thou keep'st watch below.
Ah! did we take for Heaven above
But half such pains as we
Take, day and night, for women's love,
What Angels we should be!

by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) , "Row gently here", from National Airs, published 1822

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

by Benjamin Carr (1768?-1831) , "The gondolier" [voice and piano], from Carr's Canzonetts
by Edward L. Hopkins , "Row gently here", published 1871. [voice and piano]
by Paul van Katwijk (1885-1974) , "Row gently", published 1918 [medium voice and piano], from Four Songs

by C. Hruby , "Gondellied", op. 7 (Zwei venezianische Lieder von Thomas Moore), published 1891. [voice and piano]
by Adolf Jensen (1837-1879) , "Leis' rudern hier, mein Gondolier!", op. 50 no. 4 (1874).
by Robert Alexander Schumann (1810-1856) , "Venetianisches Lied I", op. 25 no. 17 (1840), from Myrten, no. 17.

Date added to the website: 2003-11-19.

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Leis' rudern hier

Leis' rudern hier,
mein Gondolier,
Leis', leis'!                      
Die Flut vom Ruder sprühn so leise.
Laß, daß sie uns nur
Vernimmt, zu der wir zieh'n!
O könnte, wie er schauen kann,
Der Himmel redentraun,
Er spräche vieles wohl von dem,
Was Nachts die Sterne schau'n!
Leis'!

Nun rasten hier,
Mein Gondolier,
Sacht, sacht!
Ins Boot die Ruder! sacht!
Auf zum Balkone schwing' ich mich,
doch du hältst unten Wacht,
O wollten halb so eifrig nur
dem Himmel wir uns weih'n,
als schöner Weiber Diensten trau'n,
wir könnten Engel sein! Sacht!

by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810-1876)

a text in English by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) , "Row gently here", from National Airs, published 1822

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

by C. Hruby , "Gondellied", op. 7 (Zwei venezianische Lieder von Thomas Moore), published 1891. [voice and piano]
by Adolf Jensen (1837-1879) , "Leis' rudern hier, mein Gondolier!", op. 50 no. 4 (1874).
by Robert Alexander Schumann (1810-1856) , "Venetianisches Lied I", op. 25 no. 17 (1840), from Myrten, no. 17.

ITA Italian (Amelia Maria Imbarrato)

Date added to the website: 2003-11-19.