by Ernest Christopher Dowson (1867 - 1900)
A last word
Language: English
Let us go hence: the night is now at hand; The day is overworn, the birds all flown; And we have reaped the crops the gods have sown; Despair and death; deep darkness o'er the land, Broods like an owl; we cannot understand Laughter or tears, for we have only known Surpassing vanity: vain things alone Have driven our perverse and aimless band. Let us go hence, somewhither strange and cold, To Hollow Lands where just men and unjust Find end of labour, where's rest for the old, Freedom to all from love and fear and lust. Twine our torn hands! O pray the earth enfold Our life-sick hearts and turn them into dust.
Text Authorship:
- by Ernest Christopher Dowson (1867 - 1900), "A last word" [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 Alistair Hinton (b. 1950), "A last word", op. 40 no. 5 [ high soprano and piano ], from Six Songs for high soprano and piano, no. 5 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Cyril Meir Scott (1879 - 1970), "A last word", op. 30 (Two Songs) no. 1, published 1903 [ voice and piano ], London: Boosey & Hawkes [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-05-02
Line count: 14
Word count: 114