I was not sorrowful, I could not weep (Dowson, set by J. Ireland, F. Delius, K. Sorabji) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


I was not sorrowful, I could not weep,
And all my memories were put to sleep.

I watched the river grow more white and strange,
All day till evening I watched it change.

All day till evening I watched the rain
Beat wearily upon the window pane

I was not sorrowful, but only tired
Of everything that ever I desired.

Her lips, her eyes, all day became to me
The shadow of a shadow utterly.

All day mine hunger for her heart became
Oblivion, until the evening came,

And left me sorrowful, inclined to weep,
With all my memories that could not sleep.

Input by Ted Perry

Authorship

Ernest Dowson (1867-1900)

Verses

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

Frederick Delius (1862-1934)

Songs of Sunset

John Ireland (1879-1962)

Songs of a Wayfarer

Kaikhosru Sorabji, born Leon Dudley Sorabji (1892-1988)

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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