The sailor (Graves, set by D. Arundell) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


A sailor once wooed a farmer's daughter,
The fairest lass in all the country side.
She loved him well; but when he besought her
With beating, beating heart to be his bride,
"A sailor lad," she said, "I'll never, never wed,
And live a wife and widow all in one;
O no, my charmer shall be a farmer,
Returning faithful with the set of sun."
At danger's call, across the water
The sailor went, but left his heart behind;
Fresh lovers whispered the farmer's daughter;
Yet when they prayed her to confess her mind,
"A farmer's lad," she said, "I'll never, never wed,
When heroes bleed to guard their native strand.
Till war is over I need no lover:
Then let the stoutest soldier claim my hand."
When peace returned, escaped from slaughter,
With stars and crosses home our warriors came,
And some went wooing the farmer's daughter,
But none could charm the lass to change her name;
Until once more from far a gallant, gallant tar
Began with beating heart his love to tell;
And sweetly turning, with blushes burning,
She sighed: "Since first we met I've loved you well!"

Authorship

Alfred Perceval Graves (1846-1931)

Irish Songs and Ballads

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

Dennis Drew Arundell (1898-)

Date added to the website: 2008-12-10.

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.