by Edmund Clarence Stedman (1833 - 1908)
Cavalry song
Language: English
Our good steeds snuff the evening air, Our pulses with their purpose tingle: The foeman's fires are twinkling there; He leaps to hear our sabres jingle! HALT! Each carbine sends its whizzing ball: Now, cling! clang! forward all, Into the fight! Dash on beneath the smoking dome, Through level lightnings gallop nearer! One look to Heaven! No thoughts of home: The guidons that we bear are dearer. CHARGE! Cling! clang! forward all! Heaven help those whose horses fall! Cut left and right! They flee before our fierce attack! They fall, they spread in broken surges! Now, comrades, bear our wounded back, And leave the foeman to his dirges. WHEEL! The bugles sound the swift recall: Cling! clang! backward all! Home and good-night!
Text Authorship:
- by Edmund Clarence Stedman (1833 - 1908), "Cavalry song" [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 Frances Allitsen (1848 - 1912), "Cavalry song", published 1891 [ voice and piano ], London: Boosey [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2012-01-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 122