Old tunes (Teasdale, set by D. Thomas, L. Laitman) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


As the waves of perfume, heliotrope, rose,
Float in the garden when no wind blows,
Come to us, go from us, whence no one knows;
So the old tunes float in my mind,
And go from me leaving no trace behind,
Like fragrance borne on the hush of the wind.
but in the instant the airs remain
I know the laughter and the pain
Of times that will not come again.
I try to catch at many a tune
Like petals of light fallen from the moon,
Broken and bright on a dark lagoon.
But they float away-for who can hold
Youth, or perfume or the moon's gold?

Input by Dave Evan Thomas

Authorship

Sara Teasdale (1884-1933)

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

Lori Laitman (1955-)

The Metropolitan Tower and Other Songs

David Evan Thomas (1958-)

Petals fallen from the moon

Date added to the website: 2006-06-12.

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