A reply (Stephens, set by F. Swain) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


[Lift]¹ up my heart, and sing again 
As once you did when I was young. 
Before I knew of woe and pain. 
When every happy bird that sung 
I sang to it, and it to me 
Repeated half the melody. 
Like a thrush at peep of light, 
I would pipe my sunny lay, 
Singing how the blackest night 
Always has to run away 
When the sun climbs from afar 
Brandishing his scimitar. 
Like an eagle's is your cry ; 
More of fierceness than of glee 
Sent your pinions to the sky 
Bounding our humanity ; 
Sent you winging to the sun 
That is seen of every one.

View text without footnotes
¹ Swain: "Still lift"; there may be further changes not noted.

Authorship

James Stephens (1882-1950)

Songs from the Clay

A Reply

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

Freda Swain (1902-)

Date added to the website: 2009-01-22.

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