The kingfisher (Davies, set by R. Still, F. Hart, P. Naylor) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


It was the Rainbow gave thee birth,
    And left thee all her lovely hues; 
And, as her mother's name was Tears,
    So runs it in my blood to choose 
For haunts the lonely pools, and keep
In company with trees that weep.

Go you and, with such glorious hues,
    Live with proud peacocks in green parks; 
On lawns as smooth as shining glass,
    Let every feather show its marks; 
Get thee on boughs and clap thy wings
Before the windows of proud kings.

Nay, lovely Bird, thou art not vain;
    Thou hast no proud, ambitious mind; 
I also love a quiet place
    That's green, away from all mankind; 
A lonely pool, and let a tree
Sigh with her bosom over me.

Authorship

William Henry Davies (1871-1940)

Farewell to Poesy and Other Pieces

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

Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874-1949)

Five Part Songs for Women's Unaccompanied Three-Part Choir

Peter Russell Naylor (1933-)

Bird Songs

Robert Still (1910-1971)

Date added to the website: 2004-05-02.

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