by Adrian Ross (1859 - 1933)
The Pipes of Pan
Language: English
When the woods are gay in the time of June
With the Chestnut flow'r and fan,
And the birds are still in the hush of noon, -
Hark to the pipes of Pan !
He plays on the reed that once was a maid
Who broke from his arms and ran,
And her soul goes out to the list'ning glade -
Hark to the pipes of Pan !
Though you hear, come not near,
Fearing the wood-god's ban ;
Soft and sweet, in the dim retreat,
Hark to the pipes of Pan !
When the sun goes down and the stars are out,
He gathers his goat-foot clan,
And the Dryads dance with the Satyr rout ;
Hark to the pipes of Pan !
For he pipes the dance of the happy Earth
Ere ever the gods began,
When the woods were merry and mad with mirth -
Hark to the pipes of Pan !
Come not nigh, pass them by,
Woe to the eyes that scan !
Wild and loud to the leaping crowd,
Hark to the pipes of Pan !
When the armies meet on the battle field,
And the fight is man to man,
With the gride of sword and the clash of shield -
Hark to the pipes of Pan !
Thro' the madden'd shriek of the flying rear,
Thro' the roar of the charging van,
There skirls the tune of the God of Fear -
Hark to the pipes of Pan !
Ours the fray -- on and slay,
Let him escape that can !
Ringing out in the battle shout,
Hark to the pipes of Pan !
Text Authorship:
- by Adrian Ross (1859 - 1933), "The Pipes of Pan" [author's text not yet checked 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 Edward Elgar, Sir (1857 - 1934), "The Pipes of Pan", 1899, published 1900 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-02-07
Line count: 36
Word count: 254