Lochnagar (Byron, set by L. Beethoven) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


 Away, ye gay landscapes, ye gardens of roses,
 In you let the minions of luxury rove,
 Restore me the rocks where the snow-flake reposes,
 Though still they are sacred to freedom and love.
 Yet Caledonia, belov'd are thy mountains,
 Round their white summits the elements war
 Though cataracts foam 'stead of smooth-flowing fountains,
 I sigh for the valley of dark Lochnagar.

 Ah! there my young footsteps in infancy wander'd,
 My cap was the bonnet, my cloak was my plaid.
 On chieftains long perish'd my memory ponder'd
 As daily I strode thro' the pine cover'd glade.
 I sought not my home till the day's dying glory
 Gave place to the rays of the bright Polar star.
 For fancy was cheer'd by traditional story,
 Disclos'd by the natives of dark Lochnagar!

 Years have roll'd on, Lochnagar, since I left you!
 Years must elapse ere I tread you again.
 Though nature of verdure and flow'rs has bereft you,
 Yet still are you dearer than Albion's plain.
 England, thy beauties are tame and domestic
 To one who has roamed over mountains afar
 O! for the crags that are wild and majestic,
 The steep frowning glories of dark Lochnagar.

Authorship

George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788-1824)

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

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

12 Scottish Songs

Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

GER

German

Date added to the website: 2005-01-16.

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