The piper

Shepherd ! while the lambs do feed, 
And you rest beneath a tree, 
Pipe upon an oaten reed 
Merrily and merrily. 

Should it rain do not forbear 
Rain comes from the happy sky 
Tune us now a quiet air 
Till the shower passes by. 

Back the sun will come in gold ! 
Pipe away, my dear, until 
Evening brings the lambs to fold 
You may weep then if you will.

by James Stephens (1882-1950) , "The piper", 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 Samuel Hans Adler (1928-) , "The piper", published 1963 [high voice and piano], from Four Poems of James Stephens, no. 3.
by William C. Stickles (1883-1971) , "Shepherd, play a little air", published <<1940. [voice and piano]
by Phyllis Taylor , "The piper", published 1926. [unison voices and piano]

Date added to the website: 2009-01-22.

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