by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Sweet Norah, come here, and look into...
Language: English
"Sweet Norah, come here, and look into the fire; Maybe in its embers good luck we might see; But don't come too near, or your glances so shining, Will put it clean out, like the sunbeams, machree! "Just look 'twixt the sods, where so brightly they're burning; There's a sweet little valley, with rivers and trees, -- And a house on the bank, quite as big as the squire's -- Who knows but some day we'll have something like these? "And now there's a coach, and four galloping horses, A coachman to drive, and a footman behind; That betokens some day we will keep a fine carriage, And dash through the streets with the speed of the wind." As Dermot was speaking, the rain down the chimney Soon quenched the turf-fire on the hollowed hearth-stone; While mansion and carriage in smoke-wreaths evanished, And left the poor [dreamers]1 dejected and lone. Then Norah to Dermot these words softly whisper'd, -- "'Tis better to strive, than to vainly desire; And our little hut by the roadside is better Than palace, and servants, and coach -- in the fire!" 'Tis years since poor Dermot his fortune was dreaming -- Since Norah's sweet counsel effected its cure; For ever since then hath he toiled night and morning, And now his snug [mansion]2 looks down on the Suir.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with The Ballads of Ireland; collected and edited by Edward Hayes, Vol. II, Miscellaneous Ballads, Boston, Patrick Donahoe, 1857, page 321.
1 Fernald: "dreamer"2 Fernald: "cottage"
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, title 1: "Fortune in the Fire", title 2: "Irish Castles" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Albert Henry Fernald (flourished 1855-1897), "Irish Air Castles", subtitle: "Ballad", published 1870 [voice and piano], New York, Ditson [ sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Rohan Srinivasan [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2018-07-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 218