I will not let thee go (Bridges, set by G. Holst, R. Milford) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


    I will not let thee go.
Ends all our month-long love in this?
    Can it be summ'd up so,
    Quit in a single kiss?
    I will not let thee go.

    I will not let thee go.
If thy words' breath could scare thy deeds,
    As the soft south can blow
    And toss the feather'd seeds,
    Then might I let thee go.
 
    I will not let thee go.
Had not the great sun seen, I might;
    Or were he reckon'd slow
    To bring the false to light,
    Then might I let thee go.
 
    I will not let thee go.
The stars that crowd the summer skies
    Have watch'd us so below
    With all their million eyes,
    I dare not let thee go.
 
    I will not let thee go.
Have we not chid the changeful moon,
    Now rising late, and now
    Because she set too soon,
    And shall I let thee go?
 
    I will not let thee go.
Have not the young flowers been content,
    Pluck'd ere their buds could blow,
    To seal our sacrament?
 
    I cannot let thee go.
    I will not let thee go.
I hold thee by too many bands:
    Thou sayest farewell, and, lo!
    I have thee by the hands,
    And will not let thee go.

Authorship

Robert Seymour Bridges (1844-1930)

Poems

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

Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

Robin Humphrey Milford (1903-1959)

Date added to the website: 2009-01-29.

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