I was there (Whitman, set by L. Hoiby) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


I understand the large hearts of heroes,
The courage of present times and all times;
How the skipper saw the crowded and rudderless wreck of the 
steam-ship, and Death chasing it up and down the storm,
How he knuckled tight, and gave not back an inch,
  and was faithful of days and faithful of nights,
And chalk'd in large letters, on a board,
  Be of good cheer, we will not desert you:
How he follow'd with them, and tack'd with them three days 
  and would not give it up;
How he saved the drifting company at last:
How the lank loose-gown'd women look'd when
  boated from the side of their prepared graves;
How the silent old-faced infants, and the lifted sick, 
  and the sharp-lipp'd unshaved men:
All this I swallow, it tastes good, I like it well, it becomes mine,
I am the man, I suffer'd, I was there.

Authorship

Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

Song of Myself

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

Lee Hoiby (1926-)

I was there

Text added to the website: 2005-07-28.

Notes about green, red, and white dots

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