Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight
Language:
English
It is portentious, and a thing of state
That here at midnight, in our little town
A mourning figure walks, and will not rest,
Near the old court-house, pacing up and down.
Or by his homestead, or by shadowed yards
He lingers where his children used to play,
Or through the market, on the well-worn stones
He stalks until the dawn-stars burn away.
A bronzed, lank man! His suit of ancient black,
A famous high top-hat, and plain worn shawl
Make him the quaint, great figure that men love,
The prairie-lawyer, master of us all.
He cannot sleep upon his hillside now.
He is among us:--as in times before!
And we who toss or lie awake for long
Breathe deep, and start, to see him pass the door.
His head is bowed. He thinks on men and kings.
Yea, when the sick world cries, how can he sleep?
Too many peasants fight, they know not why,
Too many homesteads in black terror weep.
The sins of all the war-lords burn his heart.
He sees the dreadnaughts scouring every main.
He carries on his shawl-wrapped shoulders now
The bitterness, the folly and the pain.
He cannot rest until a spirit-dawn
Shall come:--the shining hope of Europe free:
The league of sober folk, the Workers' Earth,
Bringing long peace to Cornland, Alp and Sea.
It breaks his heart that kings must murder still,
That all his hours of travail here for men
Seem yet in vain. And who will bring white peace
That he may sleep upon his hill again?
Authorship
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text),
listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
 by Ruth Olive Bradley (1894?-)
, "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight", published 1959. [cantata: mixed chorus, piano]
by Roy Harris (1898-1979)
, "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight", published 1955. [mezzosoprano, violin, violoncello, piano]
by Elie Siegmeister (1909-1991)
, "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight", published 1939. [SATB chorus, piano or orchestra]
by John D. White (1931-)
, "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight", published 1972 [SATB chorus, piano or orchestra], from Three Madrigals
Date added to the website: 2005-09-26.
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