I heard a linnet courting

I heard a linnet courting
   His lady in the spring:
His mates were idly sporting,
   Nor stayed to hear him sing
         His song of love.—
I fear my speech distorting
         His tender love.

The phrases of his pleading
   Were full of young delight;
And she that gave him heeding
   Interpreted aright
         His gay, sweet notes,—
So sadly marred in the reading,—
         His tender notes.

And when he ceased, the hearer
   Awaited the refrain,
Till swiftly perching nearer
   He sang his song again,
         His pretty song:—
Would that my verse spake clearer
         His tender song!

Ye happy, airy creatures!
   That in the merry spring
Think not of what misfeatures
   Or cares the year may bring;
         But unto love
Resign your simple natures,
         To tender love.

by Robert Seymour Bridges (1844-1930) , no title, from Poems, published 1873

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

by Harry Brook (1893-?) , "I heard a linnet", published 1949. [unison voices and piano]
by Benjamin James Dale (1885-1943) , "I heard a linnet", c1939. [voice and piano]
by Dorothea Edge , "I heard a linnet courting", published 1958. [two-part chorus of equal voices and piano]
by Victor Edward Galway , "I heard a linnet courting" [two-part chorus of treble voices and piano], from Dominion Song Book, no. 13
by Ivy Herbert , "The linnet", published 1947. [voice and piano]
by Harold Noble (1903-) , "I heard a linnet courting", published 1969. [SATB a cappella]
by Horace Ian Parrott (1916-) , "I heard a linnet courting", published 1948. [medium voice and piano]
by David E. Stone (1922-) , "The linnet", published 1948. [mezzo-soprano or tenor and piano]
by James Oldfield Turner , "The linnet", published 1959. [SATB and piano]

Date added to the website: 2008-01-08.

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