The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone
In the ranks of death you'll find him;
His father's sword he [has]1 girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him.
"Land of Song", said the warrior bard,
"Tho' all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee".
[ ... ]
The Bards of Ireland
by Victor Herbert (1859 - 1924)
1. The Minstrel Boy  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "The Minstrel Boy", appears in Irish Melodies
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le jeune ménestrel", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Ernst Eckstein) , "Der Sängerknab'", subtitle: "(Nach dem Englischen des Thomas Moore.)", appears in In Moll und Dur, in 3. Dritte Abtheilung
Note: some settings of this text use a third verse written by an unknown author during the American Civil War, found here.
1 Herbert: "hath"Researcher for this page: Ted Perry
2. Remember the glories of Brien the Brave  [sung text checked 1 time]
Remember the glories of Brien the brave,
Though the days of the hero are o’er;
Though lost to Mononia, and cold in the grave,
He returns to Kinkora no more.
That star of the field, which so often [hath poured]1
Its beam on the battle, is set;
But enough of its glory remains on each sword
To light us to victory yet.
[ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Munster. Remember the Glories of Brien the Brave"
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View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes, ed. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Boston: James R. Osgood & Co., 1876–79; Bartleby.com, 2011. www.bartleby.com/270/2/92.html
1 Herbert: "has pour'd"Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
3. Lament
— Tacet —
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4. Believe me, if all those endearing young charms  [sung text checked 1 time]
Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,
Which I gaze on so fondly to-day,
Were to change by to-morrow, and fleet in my arms,
Like [fairy-gifts]1, fading away!
Thou wouldst still be ador'd as this moment thou art,
Let thy loveliness fade as it will;
And, around the dear ruin, each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly still!
[ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), no title, written 1808
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Herbert: "fairy wings"
2 Stevenson: "Oh! the"
Researcher for this page: Robert Grady
5. Tho' the last glimpse of Erin  [sung text checked 1 time]
Tho' the last glimpse of Erin with sorrow I see,
Yet, wherever thou art shall seem Erin to me.
In exile thy bosom shall still be my home,
And thine eyes make my climate, wherever we roam.
[ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Tho' the last glimpse of Erin", appears in Irish Melodies, first published 1808
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Bien que je voie avec tristesse", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
6. The harp that once through Tara's halls  [sung text checked 1 time]
The harp that once through Tara's [halls]1
The soul of music shed,
Now hangs as mute on Tara's [walls]2,
As if that soul were fled.
So sleeps the pride of former days,
So glory's thrill is o'er,
And hearts, that once beat high for praise,
Now feel that pulse no more.
[ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "The harp that once through Tara's halls", appears in Irish Melodies
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "La harpe qui autrefois dans les salles de Tara", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Thomas Moore, A New Edition from the last London Edition, Boston: Lee and Shepard; New York: Lee, Shepard, & Dillingham, 1876.
1 Stöhr: "hall"2 Stöhr: "wall"
Research team for this page: Robert Grady , Johann Winkler