The First of May

The orchards half the way
  From home to Ludlow fair
Flowered on the first of May
  In Mays when I was there;
And seen from stile or turning
  The plume of smoke would show
Where fires were burning
  That went out long ago.

The plum broke forth in green,
  The pear stood high and snowed,
My friends and I between
  Would take the Ludlow road;
Dressed to the nines and drinking
  And light in heart and limb,
And each chap thinking
  The fair was held for him.

Between the trees in flower
  New friends at fairtime tread
The way where Ludlow tower
  Stands planted on the dead.
Our thoughts, a long while after,
  They think, our words they say;
Theirs now's the laughter,
  The fair, the first of May.

Ay, yonder lads are yet
  The fools that we were then;
For oh, the sons we get
  Are still the sons of men.
The sumless tale of sorrow
  Is all unrolled in vain:
May comes to-morrow
  And Ludlow fair again.

by Alfred Edward Housman (1859-1936) , "The First of May", from Last Poems, no. 34

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

by Michael Head (1900-1976) , "Ludlow Town", published 1931. [tenor or baritone and piano]
by Douglas MacDonald Stewart (1892-?) , "The First of May", published 1923. [voice and piano]
by Dom Thomas Symons (1887-1975) , "The First of May", published 1936. [baritone and piano]

Date added to the website: 2008-08-18.

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 The First of May, Ludlow Town, Art song , Lieder, chansons, or works for solo voice
  Search musicroom.com for The First of May, Ludlow Town, vocal/choral music

CDs:

  Search amazon.com for The First of May, Ludlow Town, art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for The First of May, Ludlow Town, 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