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Author: William Ernest Henley (1849-1903)

Text collections / compilations [warning - not necessarily comprehensive]

A Book of Verses
For England's Sake
Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses
Poems
Rhymes and Rhythms
The Song of Swords and Other Verses

Texts set to music [warning - not necessarily comprehensive]

[x] indicates a placeholder for a text that is not yet in the database
* indicates that a text cannot (yet?) be displayed on this site because of its copyright status.

Note: titles are in bold and first lines are in italics.
A blue rectangle containing a language code such as ENG indicates the presence of a translation to that language. A grey rectangle such as FRE indicates a particular translation (usually one set to music) exists but is missing.

A bowl of roses (It was a bowl of roses) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - R. Clarke, F. Scott
A last year's rose (From the brake the Nightingale ) (from A Book of Verses) - R. Quilter
A late lark (A late lark twitters from the quiet skies) - F. Delius, J. Horne
A late lark twitters from the quiet skies
E. Sweeting: Evening
F. Delius, J. Horne: A late lark
M. Blower: Evensong
A. Shepherd: Sundown

A sigh sent wrong (A sigh sent wrong) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - C. Lidgey
A sigh sent wrong (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
C. Lidgey: A sigh sent wrong

A sombre, sagging sky (from A Book of Verses)
C. Willeby: Summer rain

A wink from Hesper, falling (A wink from Hesper, falling) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
A wink from Hesper, falling (from A Book of Verses)
F. Hart: A wink from Hesper, falling

A world of leafage (A world of leafage murmurous and a-twinkle) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - C. Willeby
A world of leafage murmurous and a-twinkle (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
C. Willeby: A world of leafage

After the grim daylight (After the grim daylight ) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - C. Willeby
After the grim daylight (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
C. Willeby: After the grim daylight

All in a garden green (All in a garden green ) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - C. Lidgey, B. Whelply, C. Willeby
All in a garden green (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
G. Peel: All in garden green
C. Lidgey, B. Whelply, C. Willeby: All in a garden green

All in garden green (All in a garden green ) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - G. Peel
Bluebells from the clearings (Come where my Lady lies) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - E. Walker
Bring her again (Bring her again, O western wind) (from A Book of Verses) - J. Hathaway, F. Korbay, H. Parker
Bring her again, o western wind (Bring her again, O western wind) (from A Book of Verses) - C. Forsyth, L. Ronald
Bring her again, O western wind (from A Book of Verses)
N. Johnson: Wind of the western sea
J. Hathaway, F. Korbay, H. Parker: Bring her again
A. Mallinson: Over the western sea
F. Hart: Western wind
C. Forsyth, L. Ronald: Bring her again, o western wind
A. Beach: The western wind
F. Hastings, W. Watts: Bring her again to me
M. Wald: The western sea

Bring her again to me (Bring her again, O western wind) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hastings, W. Watts
Chiming a dream by the way (from A Book of Verses)
E. Allen: Echoes

Come where my Lady lies (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
E. Walker: Bluebells from the clearings

Dark is the night (Out of the night that covers me ) (from A Book of Verses) - A. Beach GER
Dear hands (Dear hands, so many times so much) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - F. Lambert
Dear hands, so many times so much (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
F. Lambert: Dear hands

Dearest (Dearest, when I am dead ) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - S. Homer
Dearest, when I am dead (Dearest, when I am dead ) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - I. Gurney, F. Lambert, C. Lidgey
Dearest, when I am dead (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
I. Gurney, F. Lambert, C. Lidgey: Dearest, when I am dead
S. Homer: Dearest

Dedication (Take, dear, my little sheaf of songs) (from A Book of Verses) - H. Riesenfeld, L. Ronald
Dedication - to my wife (Take, dear, my little sheaf of songs) (from A Book of Verses)
H. Riesenfeld, L. Ronald: Dedication

Die Nachtigall (Die Nachtigall spielt auf goldener Leier ) - F. Delius
Die Nachtigall spielt auf goldener Leier
F. Delius: Die Nachtigall

Echoes (Chiming a dream by the way) (from A Book of Verses) - E. Allen
England, my England (What have I done for you) (from The Song of Swords and Other Verses) - M. Shaw, R. Vaughan Williams, H. Willan
Evening (A late lark twitters from the quiet skies) - E. Sweeting
Evensong (A late lark twitters from the quiet skies) - M. Blower
Falmouth is a fine town (O, Falmouth is a fine town with ships in the bay) (from A Book of Verses) - R. Francillon
Falmouth Town (O, Falmouth is a fine town with ships in the bay) (from A Book of Verses) - W. Watts
Fill a glass with golden wine (Fill a glass with golden wine ) (from A Book of Verses) - H. Hadley, R. Quilter
Fill a glass with golden wine (from A Book of Verses)
G. Butterworth: Fill a glass with golden wine
H. Hadley, R. Quilter: Fill a glass with golden wine

Finale (A sigh sent wrong) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
C. Lidgey: A sigh sent wrong

Flown (You played and sang a snatch of song) (from Rhymes and Rhythms) - F. Hart
Fresh from his fastnesses
C. Parry: The North Wind

From the brake the nightingale (From the brake the Nightingale ) (from A Book of Verses) - S. Homer
From the brake the Nightingale (from A Book of Verses)
S. Homer: From the brake the nightingale
W. Watts: The nightingale and the rose
R. Quilter: A last year's rose

Geraldine (Why, my heart, do we love her so?) (from The Song of Swords and Other Verses) - R. Clarke
God with us (June, and a warm, sweet rain) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - M. White
Gray hills (Gray hills, gray skies, gray lights) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - C. Lidgey
Gray hills, gray skies, gray lights (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
C. Lidgey: Gray hills

Gulls (Gulls in an aery morrice) (from The Song of Swords and Other Verses) - M. Rogers
Gulls in an aery morrice (Gulls in an aery morrice) (from The Song of Swords and Other Verses) - I. Gurney
Gulls in an aery morrice (from The Song of Swords and Other Verses)
I. Gurney: Gulls in an aery morrice
M. Rogers: Gulls

I am the Reaper (I am the Reaper) (from A Book of Verses) - J. Elkus, F. Hart
I am the Reaper (from A Book of Verses)
J. Elkus, F. Hart: I am the Reaper

I gave my heart to a woman (I gave my heart to a woman) (from Poems) - F. Hart
I gave my heart to a woman (from Poems)
F. Hart: I gave my heart to a woman

I send you roses (I send you roses -- red, like love) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - C. Willeby
I send you roses -- red, like love (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
C. Willeby: I send you roses

I was a King in Babylon (Or ever the knightly years were gone) (from A Book of Verses) - C. Forsyth
In the placid summer midnight (In the placid summer midnight)
G. Peel: Summer midnight

In the placid summer midnight
G. Peel: Summer midnight

In the red April dawn (In the red April dawn ) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - R. Raybould, C. Willeby
In the red April dawn (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
R. Raybould, C. Willeby: In the red April dawn

In the year that's come and gone (In the year that's come and gone, love, his flying feather ) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
In the year that's come and gone, love, his flying feather (from A Book of Verses)
G. Butterworth: In the year that's come and gone, love, his flying feather
F. Hart: In the year that's come and gone

Invictus (Out of the night that covers me ) (from A Book of Verses) - B. Huhn, C. Mueller, M. Shaw GER
It was a bowl of roses (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
R. Clarke, F. Scott: A bowl of roses

June, and a warm, sweet rain (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
M. White: God with us
P. Zulueta: Oh to be heart on heart

Kate-a-Whimsies (Kate-a-Whimsies, John-a-Dreams) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
Kate-a-Whimsies, John-a-Dreams (Kate-a-Whimsies, John-a-Dreams) (from A Book of Verses)
F. Hart: Kate-a-Whimsies

Kate-a-Whimsies, John-a-Dreams (from A Book of Verses)
F. Hart: Kate-a-Whimsies

Last year (The spring, my dear) (from A Book of Verses) - C. Palmer
Let me sleep (Life is bitter. All the faces of the years) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
Life in her creaking shoes (from A Book of Verses)
G. Butterworth: Life in her creaking shoes

Life is bitter. All the faces of the years (from A Book of Verses)
F. Hart: Let me sleep

Lived on one's back (from A Book of Verses)
T. Chanler: The patient sleeps

Look down, dear eyes (Look down, dear eyes, look down) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - C. Lambert, C. Willeby
Look down, dear eyes, look down (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
C. Lambert, C. Willeby: Look down, dear eyes

Madam Life's a piece in bloom (Madam Life's a piece in bloom) (from Poems) - F. Hart
Madam Life's a piece in bloom (from Poems)
F. Hart: Madam Life's a piece in bloom

Margaritæ Sorori (A late lark twitters from the quiet skies)
F. Delius, J. Horne: A late lark
A. Shepherd: Sundown
E. Sweeting: Evening
M. Blower: Evensong

O Falmouth is a fine town (O, Falmouth is a fine town with ships in the bay) (from A Book of Verses) - A. Duckworth, M. Shaw
O, Falmouth is a fine town with ships in the bay (from A Book of Verses)
R. Francillon: Falmouth is a fine town
A. Duckworth, M. Shaw: O Falmouth is a fine town
W. Watts: Falmouth Town

O gather me the rose, the rose (O gather me the rose, the rose) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
O gather me the rose, the rose (from A Book of Verses)
F. Hart: O gather me the rose, the rose

Of rain (A sombre, sagging sky) (from A Book of Verses)
C. Willeby: Summer rain

Oh to be heart on heart (June, and a warm, sweet rain) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - P. Zulueta
On the way to Kew (On the way to Kew ) (from A Book of Verses) - R. Clarke, A. Mallinson, A. Foote
On the way to Kew (from A Book of Verses)
G. Butterworth: On the way to Kew
R. Clarke, A. Mallinson, A. Foote: On the way to Kew

Only and forever (While the west is paling) (from A Book of Verses) - W. Watts
Onward (Thick is the darkness) (from A Book of Verses) - S. Liddle
Or ever the knightly years were gone (from A Book of Verses)
C. Forsyth: I was a King in Babylon

Out of the night (Out of the night that covers me ) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Korbay, C. Lidgey GER
Out of the night that covers me (from A Book of Verses) GER
M. Kernochan: Unconquered
B. Huhn, C. Mueller, M. Shaw: Invictus
A. Beach: Dark is the night
F. Korbay, C. Lidgey: Out of the night

Over the hills (Where forlorn sunsets flare and fade) (from The Song of Swords and Other Verses) - D. Blosdale
Over the western sea (Bring her again, O western wind) (from A Book of Verses) - A. Mallinson
Praise the generous gods (Praise the generous gods for giving) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
Praise the generous gods for giving (from A Book of Verses)
F. Hart: Praise the generous gods

Sea grave - R. Boughton [x]
She sauntered by the swinging seas (She sauntered by the swinging seas) (from A Book of Verses) - H. Foss, F. Hart, E. Hill, L. Issacs
She sauntered by the swinging seas (from A Book of Verses)
H. Foss, F. Hart, E. Hill, L. Issacs: She sauntered by the swinging seas

Sing to me (Sing to me, sing, and sing again ) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - C. Lidgey
Sing to me, sing (Sing to me, sing, and sing again ) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - S. Homer, C. Johns
Sing to me, sing, and sing again (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
S. Homer, C. Johns: Sing to me, sing
C. Lidgey: Sing to me

Song of the blackbird (The nightingale has a lyre of gold ) (from A Book of Verses) - R. Quilter GER
Summer midnight (In the placid summer midnight) - G. Peel
Summer rain (A sombre, sagging sky) (from A Book of Verses) - C. Willeby
Sundown (A late lark twitters from the quiet skies) - A. Shepherd
Take, dear, my little sheaf of songs (from A Book of Verses)
H. Riesenfeld, L. Ronald: Dedication

The blackbird (The nightingale has a lyre of gold ) (from A Book of Verses) - H. Parker, R. Faith, A. Beach, H. Brainard, V. Harris, F. Hart, H. Loomis GER
The blessing (The surges gushed and sounded) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
The day's high work is over and done (from For England's Sake)
C. Stanford: The last post

The fifes of June (The ways are green with the gladdening sheen) (from A Book of Verses) - M. White
The full sea rolls and thunders (The full sea rolls and thunders ) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Brinkworth, I. Gurney, F. Korbay ITA
The full sea rolls and thunders (from A Book of Verses) ITA
F. Brinkworth, I. Gurney, F. Korbay: The full sea rolls and thunders

The last post (The day's high work is over and done) (from For England's Sake) - C. Stanford
The moon of roses (This is the moon of roses) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - K. Bassett, C. Johns
The night is dark and loud (The sea is full of wandering foam) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
The nightingale (The nightingale has a lyre of gold ) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Delius, J. Densmore GER
The nightingale and the rose (From the brake the Nightingale ) (from A Book of Verses) - W. Watts
The Nightingale has a lyre of gold (The nightingale has a lyre of gold ) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Allitsen GER
The nightingale has a lyre of gold (from A Book of Verses) GER
F. Delius, J. Densmore: The nightingale
A. Lambert, C. McKinley, M. Rogers, L. Ronald, B. Whelply: The nightingale has a lyre of gold
R. Quilter: Song of the blackbird
F. Allitsen: The Nightingale has a lyre of gold
H. Parker, R. Faith, A. Beach, H. Brainard, V. Harris, F. Hart, H. Loomis: The blackbird

The North Wind (Fresh from his fastnesses) - C. Parry
The patient sleeps - T. Chanler [x]
The patient sleeps (Lived on one's back) (from A Book of Verses) - T. Chanler
The pretty washermaiden (The pretty washermaiden) (from A Book of Verses) - W. Webber
The pretty washermaiden (from A Book of Verses)
W. Webber: The pretty washermaiden

The sea is full of wandering foam (The sea is full of wandering foam) (from A Book of Verses) - I. Gurney, F. Hart
The sea is full of wandering foam (from A Book of Verses)
I. Gurney, F. Hart, F. Hart: The sea is full of wandering foam

The skies are strown with stars (The skies are strown with stars ) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
The skies are strown with stars (from A Book of Verses)
F. Hart: The skies are strown with stars

The Spirit of Wine (The Spirit of Wine sang in my glass) (from A Book of Verses) - H. Waller
The Spirit of Wine sang in my glass (from A Book of Verses)
H. Waller: The Spirit of Wine

The spring, my dear (The spring, my dear) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Allitsen, L. Ronald
The spring, my dear (from A Book of Verses)
F. Hart: The spring, my dear, is no longer spring
F. Allitsen, L. Ronald: The spring, my dear
C. Palmer: Last year

The spring, my dear, is no longer spring (The spring, my dear) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
The surges gushed and sounded (from A Book of Verses)
F. Hart: The blessing

The ways are green with the gladdening sheen (from A Book of Verses)
M. White: The fifes of June

The western sea (Bring her again, O western wind) (from A Book of Verses) - M. Wald
The western wind (Bring her again, O western wind) (from A Book of Verses) - A. Beach
The wind on the wold (The wind on the wold) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - C. Lidgey, E. Walker, H. Willan
The wind on the wold (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
C. Lidgey, E. Walker, H. Willan: The wind on the wold

There is a wheel inside my head (There is a wheel inside my head) (from A Book of Verses) - P. Coppola
There is a wheel inside my head (from A Book of Verses)
P. Coppola: There is a wheel inside my head

Thick is the darkness (Thick is the darkness) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart, W. Johnson, F. Korbay
Thick is the darkness (from A Book of Verses)
F. Hart, W. Johnson, F. Korbay: Thick is the darkness
S. Liddle: Onward

This is the moon of roses (This is the moon of roses) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - B. Crist
This is the moon of roses (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
K. Bassett, C. Johns: The moon of roses
B. Crist: This is the moon of roses

To D. H. (O, Falmouth is a fine town with ships in the bay) (from A Book of Verses)
R. Francillon: Falmouth is a fine town
A. Duckworth, M. Shaw: O Falmouth is a fine town
W. Watts: Falmouth Town

To me at my fifth-floor window (To me at my fifth-floor window) (from A Book of Verses) - A. Mallinson
To me at my fifth-floor window (from A Book of Verses)
A. Mallinson: To me at my fifth-floor window

To my mother (Chiming a dream by the way) (from A Book of Verses)
E. Allen: Echoes

To my mother II (Life is bitter. All the faces of the years) (from A Book of Verses)
F. Hart: Let me sleep

'Twas in a world of living leaves ('Twas in a world of living leaves) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - J. Beach
'Twas in a world of living leaves (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
J. Beach: 'Twas in a world of living leaves

Unconquered (Out of the night that covers me ) (from A Book of Verses) - M. Kernochan GER
Vigil (Lived on one's back) (from A Book of Verses)
T. Chanler: The patient sleeps

We flash across the level (from A Book of Verses)
A. Mallinson: We sway along

We shall surely die (We shall surely die) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
We shall surely die (from A Book of Verses)
F. Hart: We shall surely die

We sway along (We flash across the level) (from A Book of Verses) - A. Mallinson
We'll go no more a-roving (We'll go no more a-roving by the light of the moon ) (from A Book of Verses) - L. Ronald
We'll go no more a-roving by the light of the moon (from A Book of Verses)
L. Ronald: We'll go no more a-roving

We'll to the Woods (We'll to the woods, and gather May ) (from A Book of Verses) - H. Fletcher
We'll to the woods and gather May (We'll to the woods, and gather May ) (from A Book of Verses) - C. Griffes
We'll to the woods, and gather May (from A Book of Verses)
H. Fletcher: We'll to the Woods
C. Griffes: We'll to the woods and gather May

Western wind (Bring her again, O western wind) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
What have I done for you (from The Song of Swords and Other Verses)
M. Shaw, R. Vaughan Williams, H. Willan: England, my England

Where forlorn sunsets flare and fade (from The Song of Swords and Other Verses)
D. Blosdale: Over the hills

While the west is paling (While the west is paling) (from A Book of Verses) - H. Gaul, F. Korbay, F. Hart
While the west is paling (from A Book of Verses)
H. Gaul, F. Korbay, F. Hart: While the west is paling
W. Watts: Only and forever

Why, my heart, do we love her so? (from The Song of Swords and Other Verses)
R. Clarke: Geraldine

Wind of the western sea (Bring her again, O western wind) (from A Book of Verses) - N. Johnson
With strawberries (With strawberries we filled a tray) (from A Book of Verses) - N. O'Neill
With strawberries we filled a tray (With strawberries we filled a tray) (from A Book of Verses) - L. Sowerby
With strawberries we filled a tray (from A Book of Verses)
L. Sowerby: With strawberries we filled a tray
N. O'Neill: With strawberries

You played and sang a snatch of song (from Rhymes and Rhythms)
F. Hart: Flown

Your feet as glad (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender)
C. Willeby: Your feet as glad and light

Your feet as glad and light (Your feet as glad) (from Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses - Hawthorn and Lavender) - C. Willeby
Your heart has trembled (Your heart has trembled to my tongue) (from A Book of Verses) - L. Ronald
Your heart has trembled to my tongue (Your heart has trembled to my tongue) (from A Book of Verses) - F. Hart
Your heart has trembled to my tongue (from A Book of Verses)
L. Ronald: Your heart has trembled
F. Hart: Your heart has trembled to my tongue

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