The Shepherd's Song

Down the dusty road together
Homeward pass the hurrying sheep,
Stupid with the summer weather,
Too much grass and too much sleep,
  I, their shepherd, sing to thee
  That summer is a joy to me.

Down the shore rolled waves all creamy
With the flecked surf yesternight;
I swam far out in starlight dreamy,
In moving waters cool and bright,
  I, the shepherd, sing to thee
  I love the strong life of the sea.

And upon the hillside growing
Where the fat sheep dozed in shade,
Bright red poppies I found blowing,
Drowsy, tall and loosely made,
  I, the shepherd, sing to thee
  How fair the bright red poppies be.

To the red-tiled homestead bending
Winds the road, so white and long
Day and work are near their ending
Sleep and dreams will end my song,
  I, the shepherd, sing to thee:
  In the dreamtime answer me.

by Barry Eric Odell Pain (1864-1928)

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

by Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) , "The Shepherd's Song", op. 16 (7 Lieder) no. 1 (1892) [voice and piano], from Seven Lieder of Edward Elgar, no. 7, first published 1895 as op. 16 no. 1 and again in 1896; republished 1907 with German words, also set in German

by Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) , "Des Schäfers Lied", 1892, published 1907 [voice and piano], from Seven Lieder of Edward Elgar, no. 7, also set in English

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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Des Schäfers Lied

Auf dem langen Weg, der stäubet,
Heim die Herde Schafe eilt,
Von der Sommersonn' bestäubet,
Von der Weid', wo sie geweilt,
   Ich, dein Schäfer, singe dir:
   Der Sommer ist ein' Freude mir.

An das Ufer schlugen schäumend
Weissgekrönte Wellen an;
Ich schwann hinaus, die Nacht träumend,
Als sie sich über's Wasser spann;
   Ich, dein Schäfer, singe dir:
   Die See ist eine Freude mir.

Auf der blum'gen Bergeshalde,
Wo die Herde schlafend lag,
Fand ich bei dem Saum vom Walde
Rote Rosen an dem Hag;
   Ich, dein Schäfer, singe dir:
   Wie rot die Rosen leuchten mir.

Nach der trauten Hütte wendet
Sich der Weg, so lang und weiss,
Tag und Arbeit sind vollendet,
Bald naht sich der Schlummer leis',
Ich, dein Schäfer, singe dir:
   In dem Traume träume, träum' von mir,
   In dem Traume träume, träum' von mir.

Singable translation by Ed. Sachs

a text in English by Barry Eric Odell Pain (1864-1928)

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

by Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) , "Des Schäfers Lied", 1892, published 1907 [voice and piano], from Seven Lieder of Edward Elgar, no. 7, also set in English

Date added to the website: 2008-08-28.