Old Skinflint (Gibson, set by H. Howells, L. Rafter) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


'Twixt Carrowbrough Edge and Settlingstones 
See old daddy Skinflint dance in his bones, 
Old Skinflint on the gallows-tree, 
Old daddy Skinflint, the father of me. 

"Why do you dance, do you dance so high? 
Why do you dance in the windy sky?
Why do you dance in your naked bones 
'Twixt Carrowbrough Edge and Settlingstones? 

Old daddy Skinflint, the father of me, 
Why do you dance on the gallows-tree, 
Who never tripped on a dancing floor 
Or flung your heels in a reel before? 

You taught me many a cunning thing 
But never taught me to dance and sing, 
Yet I must do whatever you do, 
So when you dance I must dance too." 

'Twixt Carrowbrough Edge and Settlingstones 
See old daddy Skinflint dance in his bones, 
Old Skinflint on the gallows-tree 
Old daddy Skinflint, the father of me.

Authorship

Wilfrid Wilson Gibson (1878-1962)

Whin

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

Herbert Norman Howells (1892-1983)

Leonard Rafter (1912-1964)

Three songs

Date added to the website: 2009-01-30.

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