Response (Dunbar, set by H. Adams, G. Walker) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


When Phyllis sighs and from her eyes
The light dies out; my soul replies
With misery of deep drawn breath,
E'en as it were at war with death.
When Phyllis smiles, her glance beguiles
My heart through lovelit woodland aisles,
And through the silence high and clear,
A wooing warbler's song I hear.
But if she frown, despair comes down,
I put me on my sackcloth gown;
So frown not, Phyllis, lest I die,
But look on me with smile or sigh.

Authorship

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

Lyrics of Love and Laughter

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

H. Leslie Adams (1932-)

George Theophilus Walker (1922-)

Date added to the website: 2004-01-11.

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