by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852)

Song
Language: English 
Sweetest love! I'll not forget thee,
  Time shall only teach my heart,
Fonder, warmer to regret thee,
  Lovely, gentle as thou art! 
    Farewell Bessy! 

Yet, oh! yet again we'll meet, love,
  And repose our hearts at last;
Oh! sure 't will then be sweet, love,
  Calm to think on sorrows past.
    Farewell Bessy! 

Yes, my girl, the distant blessing 
  May n't be always sought in vain;
And the moment of possessing --
  Will it not, love, repay our pain? 
    Farewell Bessy! 

Still I feel my heart is breaking,
  When I think I stray from thee,
Round the world that quiet seeking,
  Which I fear is not for me!
    Farewell Bessy!

Calm to peace thy lover's bosom --
  Can it, dearest, must it be? 
Thou within ah hour shalt lose him,
  He for ever loses thee! 
    Farewell Bessy!

Text Authorship:

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

    [ None yet in the database ]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in French (Français), a translation by Thomas Gounet (1801 - 1869) [an adaptation] ; composed by Hector Berlioz.
  • Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Hermann Wichmann.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-02-10
Line count: 25
Word count: 135