The Lied and Art Song Texts Page

Never the time and the place

Language: English

Never the time and the place
  And the loved one all together!
This path -- how soft to pace!
  This May -- what magic weather!
Where is the loved one's face?
In a dream that loved one's face meets mine,
  But the house is narrow, the place is bleak
Where, outside, rain and wind combine
  With a furtive ear, if I strive to speak,
  With a hostile eye at my flushing cheek,
With a malice that marks each word, each sign!
O enemy sly and serpentine,
  Uncoil thee from the waking man!
    Do I hold the Past
    Thus firm and fast
  Yet doubt if the Future hold I can?
  This path so soft to pace shall lead
  Through the magic of May to herself indeed!
  Or narrow if needs the house must be,
  Outside are the storms and strangers: we -- 
  Oh, close, safe, warm, sleep I and she, I and she.


Authorship

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

Date added to the website: 2009-02-26.

Search/Shop for

Sheet music:

 * Search sheetmusicplus.com for Never the time and the place, Art song , Lieder, chansons, or works for solo voice
 * Search musicroom.com for Never the time and the place, vocal/choral music

CDs:

 * Search amazon.com for Never the time and the place, art song, Lieder, or chansons
 * Search amazon.ca for Never the time and the place, 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