Go and catch a falling star

Go and catch a falling star,
Get with child a mandrake root,
Tell me where all past years are,
Or who cleft the devil's foot,
Teach me to hear mermaids singing,
Or to keep off envy's stinging,
And find
What wind
Serves to advance an honest mind.

If thou be'st born to strange sights,
Things invisible to see,
Ride ten thousand days and nights,
Till age snow white hairs on thee,
Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me,
All strange wonders that befell thee,
And swear,
No where
Lives a woman true and fair.

If thou find'st one, let me know,
Such a pilgrimage were sweet;
Yet do not, I would not go,
Though at next door we might meet,
Though she were true, when you met her,
And last, till you write your letter,
Yet she
Will be
False, ere I come, to two, or three.

by John Donne (1572-1631) , "Go and catch a falling star"

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

by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , "Go and catch a falling star", published 1961.
by Colin Brumby (1933-) , "Go and catch a falling star", published 1979, from The English Songs
by David Vassall Cox (1916-1997) , "Go and catch a falling star", 1959, published 1962 [tenor and piano], from The Humours of Love, no. ?
by William Flanagan (1923-1969) , "Go and catch a falling star", published 1949. [high voice and piano]
by Lee Hoiby (1926-) , "Go and catch a falling star" [tenor and piano]
by Bernard George Stevens (1916-1983) , "Go and catch a falling star", published 1948, from Three Songs: The Words by John Donne, no. ?

ITA Italian (Ferdinando Albeggiani)

Date added to the website: 2005-12-07.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!      - Emily I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.

Search/Shop for

Sheet music:

  Search sheetmusicplus.com for Go and catch a falling star, Art song , Lieder, chansons, or works for solo voice
  Search musicroom.com for Go and catch a falling star, vocal/choral music

CDs:

  Search amazon.com for Go and catch a falling star, art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for Go and catch a falling star, art song, Lieder, or chansons

Books:

  The Art of the Song Recital [amazon.com]
  The Book of Lieder: The Original Texts of Over 1000 Songs [amazon.com]
  Search amazon.com for art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for art song, lieder, or chansons

Classical Vocal Repertoire