Six Songs , opus 15

by Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934)

Invocation to the dawn

Language: English 
Behold the Dawn, the fairest of all visions,
Day's glory now appears.
Arise! For the night hath fled!
Arise and greet the Dawn.
Welcome her! Unveiled she now appeareth,
All things greet her radiant smile.
Borne by wingèd horse and car
She steals across the sky.
Child of heav'n arrayed in shining garments,
Blushing maiden draw thou near:
Sovran lady of earth and sky,
We hail thee as our queen.
Heav'n's breath awakeneth creation,
The sky is all aflame,
Th'eastern Portals open wide.
The Sun draws nigh.
Greeting thee, the holy fire ascendeth,
Greeting thee, our hymns arise,
Greeting thee, the Sun appeareth,
Greeting thee, thy worshippers
Bow down and bless and adore.

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Set by Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934), op. 15 (1902), published 1903 [ baritone and piano ]

2. Fain would I change that note  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Fain would I change that note
To which fond Love hath charm'd me
Long, long to sing by rote,
Fancying that that harm'd me:

Yet when this thought doth come
'Love is the perfect sum 
Of all delight!'
I have no other choice
Either for pen or voice
To sing or write.

O Love! they wrong thee much
That say thy [fruit]1 is bitter,
When thy [rich]2 fruit is such
As nothing can be sweeter.

Fair house of joy and bliss,
Where truest pleasure is,
I do adore thee:
I know thee what thou art,
I serve thee with my heart,
And fall before thee.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
  • sometimes misattributed to Tobias Hume (c1569 - 1645)

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1 Hume, Mulholland, Orr, Quilter: "sweet"
2 Hume: "ripe"

3. Sergeant's song
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
When Lawyers strive to heal a breach
And Parsons practise what they preach:
Then little Boney he'll pounce down,
And march his men on London town!
  Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lorum,
  Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lay!

When Justices hold equal scale,
And Rogues are only found in jail;
Then little Boney he'll pounce down,
And march his men on London town!
  Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lorum,
  Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lay!

When Rich Men find their wealth a curse,
And fill therewith the Poor men's purse;
Then little Boney he'll pounce down,
And march his men on London town!
  Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lorum,
  Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lay!

When Husbands with their Wives agree,
And Maids won't wed from modesty;
Then little Boney he'll pounce down,
And march his men on London town!
  Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lorum,
  Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lay!

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Note: portions of the poem were first published as part of The Trumpet-Major in Good Words (Jan. - Dec. 1880)

4. In a wood
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Pale beech and pine so blue,
    Set in one clay, 
Bough to bough cannot you
    Live out your day? 
When the rains skim and skip,
Why mar sweet comradeship,
Blighting with poison-drip
    Neighbourly spray?

Heart-halt and spirit-lame,
City-opprest,
Unto this wood I came
    As to a nest; 
Dreaming that sylvan peace
Offered the harrowed ease--
Nature a soft release
    From men's unrest.

But, having entered in,
    Great growths and small 
Show them to men akin--
    Combatants all! 
Sycamore shoulders oak,
Bines the slim sapling yoke,
Ivy-spun halters choke
    Elms stout and tall.

 ... 

Since, then, no grace I find
    Taught me of trees, 
Turn I back to my kind,
    Worthy as these. 
There at least smiles abound,
There discourse trills around,
There, now and then, are found
    Life-loyalties.

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Note: also in "The Woodlanders"

5. Between us now  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Between us now and here -
Two thrown together
Who are not wont to wear
Life's flushest feather -
Who see the scenes slide past,
The daytimes dimming fast,
Let there be truth at last,
Even if despair.

So thoroughly and long
Have you now known me,
So real in faith and strong
Have I now shown me,
That nothing needs disguise
Further in any wise,
Or asks or justifies
A guarded tongue.

Face unto face, then, say,
Eyes mine own meeting,
Is your heart far away,
Or with mine beating?
When false things are brought low,
And swift things have grown slow,
Feigning like froth shall go,
Faith be for aye.

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6. I will not let thee go  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
    I will not let thee go.
Ends all our month-long love in this?
    Can it be summ'd up so,
    Quit in a single kiss?
    I will not let thee go.

    I will not let thee go.
If thy words' breath could scare thy deeds,
    As the soft south can blow
    And toss the feather'd seeds,
    Then might I let thee go.
 
    I will not let thee go.
Had not the great sun seen, I might;
    Or were he reckon'd slow
    To bring the false to light,
    Then might I let thee go.
 
    I will not let thee go.
The stars that crowd the summer skies
    Have watch'd us so below
    With all their million eyes,
    I dare not let thee go.
 
    I will not let thee go.
Have we not chid the changeful moon,
    Now rising late, and now
    Because she set too soon,
    And shall I let thee go?
 
    I will not let thee go.
Have not the young flowers been content,
    Pluck'd ere their buds could blow,
    To seal our sacrament?
 
    I cannot let thee go.
    I will not let thee go.
I hold thee by too many bands:
    Thou sayest farewell, and, lo!
    I have thee by the hands,
    And will not let thee go.

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