War is kind (Crane, set by J. Carter, M. Hennagin, U. Kay, J. Waters) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind.
Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky
And the affrighted steed ran on alone,
Do not weep.
War is kind.

Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment, Little souls who thirst for fight, These
 men were born to drill and die. The unexplained glory flies above them, Great is the
 battle-god, great, and his kingdom -- A field where a thousand corpses lie.

Do not weep, babe, for war is kind.
Because your father tumbled in the yellow trenches,
Raged at his breast, gulped and died,
Do not weep.
War is kind.

Swift blazing flag of the regiment, Eagle with crest of red and gold, These men
 were born to drill and die. Point for them the virtue of slaughter, Make plain to
 them the excellence of killing And a field where a thousand corpses lie.

Mother whose heart hung humble as a button
On the bright splendid shroud of your son,
Do not weep.
War is kind.

Authorship

Stephen Crane (1871-1900)

War Is Kind and Other Lines

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

John Wallace Carter (1929-)

Michael Hennagin (1936-)

The Unknown

Ulysses Simpson Kay (1917-1995)

Stephen Crane Set

James Lipscomb Waters (1930-)

Date added to the website: 2004-02-09.

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