A bird [bills]1 the selfsame song, With never a fault in its flow, That we listened to here those long Long years ago. A pleasing marvel is how A strain of such rapturous rote Should have gone on thus till now Unchanged in a note! -- But it's not the selfsame bird. -- No: perished to dust is he.... As also are those who heard That song with me.
Four Songs to poems by Thomas Hardy
Song Cycle by John Linton Gardner (1917 - 2011)
1. The selfsame song  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Authorship:
- by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928), "The selfsame song"
Go to the single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)1 in some editions, "sings"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. The singing woman  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
There was a singing woman Came riding across the mead At the time of the mild May weather, Tameless, tireless; This song she sung: "I am fair, I am young!" And many turned to heed. And the same singing woman Sat crooning in her need At the time of the winter weather; Friendless, fireless, She sang this song: "Life, thou'rt too long!" And there was none to heed.
Authorship:
- by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928), "The singing woman"
Go to the single-text view
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. First or last  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
If grief come early Joy comes late, If joy come early Grief will wait; Aye, my dear and tender! Wise ones joy them early While the cheeks are red, Banish grief till surly Time has dulled their dread. And joy being ours Ere youth has flown, The later hours May find us gone; Aye, my dear and tender!
Authorship:
- by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928), "First or last", appears in Late Lyrics and Earlier with Many Other Verses, first published 1922
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]4. A bygone occasion  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
That night, that night, That song, that song! Will such again be evened quite Through lifetimes long? No mirth was shown To outer seers, But mood to match has not been known In modern years. O eyes that smiled, O lips that lured; That such would last was one beguiled To think ensured! That night, that night, That song, that song; O drink to its recalled delight, Its praise prolong! O drink to its recalled delight, Though tears may throng!
Authorship:
- by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928), "A bygone occasion", appears in Late Lyrics and Earlier with Many Other Verses, first published 1922
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Total word count: 273